Brawl Erupts in Armenian Parliament Over State Fund Allegations
Armenian lawmakers engaged in a mass physical altercation after opposition member Edgar Ghazaryan accused the Speaker of misusing state funds during a session.
A mass brawl broke out in the National Assembly of Armenia on October 6, 2026, during a session focused on a bill to create an investigative commission regarding a crisis involving the Armenian Apostolic Church. The conflict began when Edgar Ghazaryan, a lawmaker from the opposition Strong Armenia faction, accused Speaker Ruben Rubinyan of misusing state funds. Ghazaryan urged members of the ruling Civil Contract party to return 250,000-dram bonuses to the state budget.
The situation escalated after Speaker Rubinyan interrupted Ghazaryan and cut off his microphone. This triggered a verbal argument that devolved into a physical fight between pro-government and opposition deputies in the parliamentary hall and corridors. Security personnel intervened as Rubinyan called for a recess to restore order.
Tensions persisted after the break when Civil Contract deputy Taron Chakhoyan referred to Catholicos Garegin II by his secular name. This comment prompted a second wave of shouting and insults from opposition members, further destabilizing the session.
