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Moment MP hurls chair as punches are thrown in brawl inside Armenia's parliament

Moment MP hurls chair as punches are thrown in brawl inside Armenia's parliament

This is the moment MPs threw punches - and a chair - at one another during a huge brawl inside Armenia's parliament - sparked by accusations that opposition politicians wanted to set up a Ministry of Sex.

The chaotic scene kicked off after Taron Chakhoyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, accused an opponent of corruption.

Mr Chakhoyan focused his attack on Narek Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia party, claiming: 'People mired in corruption are now lecturing us about corruption and fake news, claiming that their relatives have supposedly become targets of [government pressure].  

'Mr Karapetyan, it's not my fault that your entire family is involved in politics, including your uncle, father and cousin.'

He then reminded MPs that Mr Karapetyan's cousin had once proposed setting up a government ministry to 'satisfy all women' - a reference to remarks Sargis Karapetyan made on an Armenian podcast advocating the creation of a 'Ministry of Sex'.

A heated exchange quickly ensued between the two legislators before the pair began scuffling.

Violence quickly descended on the floor of the National Assembly when MPs from both parties started fighting.

The chaotic scenes started after an MP from Armenia's ruling party accused opposition MPs of corruption and wanting to set up a 'Ministry of Sex'

However, the speaker refused to suspend the session or interrupt the live broadcast of the parliament, which was being shown to thousands of Armenians. 

Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said: 'I want everyone to see all of this.'

The fight was finally brought to a halt when a chair was thrown towards deputy speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan.

Mr Chakhoyan apologised once the session resumed, but described opposition MPs as 'hooligans'. 

But Mr Karapetyan defended the fight, calling it a 'normal Armenian-style man-to-man fight'.

'People who had been getting on our nerves for months got it right in the mouth - and got it good,' he added.

Armenia's prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who did not attend the debate, also waded into the controversy, claiming that opposition MPs were 'reaping what they sow' after they failed to respond appropriately or condemn the behaviour of their fellow MPs.

He also warned that anyone who fights in the parliament will have their arm broken.

Mr Pashinyan added: 'If anyone thinks they can raise a hand against a member of the National Assembly, hit them or do anything else, we will break that arm. I'm saying this plainly, without beating around the bush.'

A journalist asked: 'With a chair?' 

Mr Pashinyan replied: 'If necessary, with a chair. They should know their place. There are limits to everything.'

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