Parliament row erupts between speaker, opposition MPs

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tensions escalated in the National Assembly during a speech by Kristine Vardanyan, a member of the Hayastan opposition faction.

The MP was speaking about alleged corruption cases during the current government’s tenure.

Addressing the head of the Anti-Corruption Committee, she asked: “What is the situation with Sergey Bagratyan’s wife’s mine, and what about the 25 billion from ANIF?” Aysor.am reported.

Vardanyan said her speech had been interrupted and asked for her allotted time to be restored. However, the session chair, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, refused.

“I am the person to decide. You cannot speak to me like that, Ms. Vardanyan. Your speech is over, take your seat. The speaker must turn to the National Assembly president when addressing. I am the one who decides here,” Simonyan said angrily.

Comments and exchanges continued from the parliamentary floor. Hayastan faction MP Arman Ghazaryan also intervened from his seat.

Responding to his remarks, Simonyan said: “You stay calm.” He then added: “Be quiet when I say be quiet. This is the National Assembly chamber, not your yard.”

Addressing Hayastan faction MP Artsvik Minasyan, Simonyan also stated: “Call your faction to order, otherwise I will.”

On March 4, the National Assembly heard the report “On the Activities of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia in 2025,” presented by committee chairman Artur Nahapetyan.