Tensions reached a boiling point in Armenia’s National Assembly on Monday as a violent altercation erupted during a heated debate over whether to strip opposition lawmaker Artur Sargsyan of his parliamentary immunity.
The session descended into chaos shortly after Sargsyan, a member of the opposition Armenia faction, finished delivering a speech and attempted to exit the chamber.
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According to fellow opposition MP Kristine Vardanyan, Sargsyan was physically confronted by Vahe Galumyan, a legislator from the ruling Civil Contract party, sparking a full-blown brawl on the parliamentary floor.
Footage circulating on social media—shared by Vardanyan—captures the dramatic moment security personnel stormed the chamber to break up the melee, which involved lawmakers, aides, and parliamentary staff. The Deputy Speaker, Ruben Rubinyan, was forced to abruptly suspend the session as the situation spiraled out of control.
At the heart of the turmoil is a controversial motion to revoke Sargsyan’s legal immunity. He is one of several high-profile opposition figures accused in a criminal case centered around an alleged attempt to seize power.
The case has already led to the arrest of 16 opposition members, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the spiritual leader of the “Holy Struggle” movement. The incident underscores the increasingly volatile political atmosphere in Armenia, where the ruling government’s crackdown on opposition figures has intensified.
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