Civil Contract MP Sargsyan reprimanded after clash with speaker

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Civil Contract party confirmed that Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan had filed a complaint against MP Hayk Sargsyan, which resulted in a disciplinary case. Following the review, Sargsyan was issued a formal reprimand, the party said in an official statement.

In response, Sargsyan also filed a disciplinary complaint against Simonyan. The party’s Supervisory Commission twice invited him to provide explanations but noted that he could not appear because he was abroad at the time. After reviewing the case, the commission concluded that there were no grounds to launch proceedings against Simonyan.

The party reminded its members that the Civil Contract charter obliges them to show respect toward other participants in discussions and that violations can lead to disciplinary measures.

According to Sputnik Armenia, Sargsyan later submitted a written demand to the party leadership seeking Simonyan’s expulsion from Civil Contract.

Media reports claim that the conflict stemmed from Sargsyan’s draft bill to raise taxes on betting companies. According to circulating rumors, Simonyan allegedly has financial interests linked to a betting company and attempted to block the vote on the bill. The dispute reportedly escalated to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who instructed party members to vote in favor of the proposal.