Hovik Aghazaryan’s speech sparks outrage among Civil Contract MPs: he is expelled from session

The situation escalated in the National Assembly following a speech by independent MP Hovik Aghazaryan. He spoke in defense of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), but his remarks ignited heated reactions among fellow lawmakers.

Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan ordered Aghazaryan to leave the chamber and barred him from participating in the session.

In his speech, Aghazaryan first noted that if the Yerevan Brandy Factory had not been privatized, viticulture would not exist in Armenia today. Then, turning to the ENA nationalization process, he claimed that such steps were intended to deepen anti-Russian sentiments in the country.

“This is being done so that in the future we turn toward the West. And the West begins with Turkey. If we turn toward the West, Turkey will say, ‘300,000 refugees.’ And if even a small portion of them come to Armenia, you all know what will happen. I urge the Russian side not to fall for our provocations,” he said.

Following his remarks, Civil Contract MPs began shouting “Shame! Shame!”—and an altercation broke out.