Lawmakers scuffle as Genocide denial law sparks outrage

PanARMENIAN.Net - A scuffle broke out in Armenia’s National Assembly between ruling and opposition MPs during a session where the Speaker ordered the live broadcast cut, followed by police entering the chamber. A break was announced.

Opposition MP Gegham Manukyan from the Armenia faction stated that tensions escalated around the draft law criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, which triggered a strong response from the ruling party, according to Sputnik Armenia.

The situation intensified following remarks by Speaker Alen Simonyan, who suggested internal friction among ARF representatives. This led to a reaction from opposition MP Garnik Danielyan, followed by shouting and a physical altercation between Gegham Manukyan and Civil Contract MP Vahe Ghalumyan.

“There were several causes. First, the Speaker is unfit and cannot manage the parliament. There was tension at that moment, especially after [opposition MP] Artsvik Minasyan announced that our faction introduced a bill to criminalize genocide denial. I clearly see a link between that and what happened, despite claims to the contrary by the chair of the legal committee,” Manukyan said.

Vladimir Vardanyan, head of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and a Civil Contract MP, said reports linking the altercation to the bill were inaccurate. According to him, the incident stemmed from a spontaneous reaction in the chamber and had no direct cause.

Meanwhile, opposition MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan reiterated that the incident indeed stemmed from the bill.

“Their reaction was clearly triggered by it—everything started right after. The Speaker still doesn’t realize his role and keeps provoking. It’s all unacceptable. I don’t understand Vahe Ghalumyan’s role here except being Nikol’s godson,” Saghatelyan said.

In response, Speaker Alen Simonyan dismissed the connection to the bill, stating, “People have long figured them out and are disgusted with their lies.”