Azerbaijani MPs clash in Georgia over Armenian Genocide

 April 24, 2012 - 18:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - An incident occurred in Georgia's parliament on April 24 over the topic of the Armenian Genocide recognition.

According to Novosti-Gruzia agency, the clash was sparked by opposition deputy Jondi Bagaturia's speech on potential recognition of Circassian genocide in the Georgian parliament.

The MP mentioned that “other peoples, including the Armenians, have addressed the parliament of Georgia with a similar call.”

Bagaturia’s statement incited negative reaction by Marneuli district’s MP Azer Suleymanov who approached the platform while Bagaturia was speaking, in an attempt to throw a glass at him. Others kept him from doing so, while Bagaturia flung a pen at Suleymanov.

According to Azerbaijani media reports, Suleymanov threw a Vaseline package at Bagaturia, while another Azerbaijani MP tossed some documents on 1992 events in Aghdam dubbing them as “genocide”.

Then Suleymanov took the floor to call Bagaturia “Jondi Bagaturyan”; when he moved to the topic of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in his speech, Georgian speaker David Bakradze ordered to cut off the microphone.

“This is a sore spot for both Armenians and Azerbaijanis and Turks, and I will not allow an emotional consideration of issue which adds to charges and conflicts. I will not switch on the microphone for you,” Bakradze addressed Suleymanov.