ARF Members and Ruling Party Exchange Blows in Parliament Over Armenian Genocide Bill

The Parliament of Armenia turned into a battleground on Tuesday — not just of words, but of physical confrontation — as tensions exploded over a powerful and emotional subject: the Armenian Genocide.

What began as a regular session in the National Assembly quickly escalated into shouting, pushing, and even physical fighting between members of the ruling party and opposition lawmakers. The heated debate came after the opposition "Hayastan" alliance introduced a bill to make any denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide a serious crime — regardless of motive.

The proposal sparked deep emotions in the chamber, especially from members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), who say the memory of 1.5 million Armenians lost to genocide must never be questioned — not by Turkey, not by the world, and certainly not by the Armenian government.

The conflict began when Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, got into a fiery exchange with opposition deputies Artsvik Minasyan and Garnik Danielyan from the Dashnaktsutyun party.

"Either turn on my microphone so we can talk or stop your comments," Minasyan demanded, trying to defend the opposition's position on genocide recognition.

"Sit down, calm down," Simonyan replied, dismissing the deputy.

The situation quickly grew worse. Six lawmakers — three from the ruling Civil Contract party and three from Dashnaktsutyun — physically confronted each other. Pushing and shouting filled the hall, forcing Simonyan to shut off the live broadcast and call for a 20-minute break.

At the center of the chaos was the opposition’s new bill. It proposes stronger punishments for anyone who denies or questions the 1915 Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turkish government. While Armenia already has laws against genocide denial — including fines and prison sentences of up to five years — the opposition says the current law is not strong enough.

“We demand that the denial and belittling of the Armenian Genocide be considered a criminal act in itself, regardless of whether it is accompanied by hatred or not,” wrote Dashnaktsutyun MP Kristine Vardanyan on Facebook following the brawl.

The bill would remove the requirement that genocide denial must be linked to hate speech or incitement to violence. It would make any denial, no matter the reason, a criminal offense — with longer prison time.

In response to the accusations and media reports, Speaker Alen Simonyan released a statement on his Telegram channel, disputing the narrative and blaming the opposition for stirring chaos.

“Radio Liberty, which, if I am not mistaken, did not even have a reporter in the NA building during this incident, as well as some other media outlets, published an article whose content has nothing to do with reality,” Simonyan wrote.

“The clash in the NA hall began after I, seeing that loud conversations were going on inside the Armenia bloc, responded that they seemed to be on an even keel, even with each other. After that, Artsvik Minasyan complained that I reserved the right to speak, but he could not turn on the loudspeaker and speak. Then Garnik Danielyan intervened, suggesting that, contrary to my demand for Minasyan to sit down, he should do the opposite and not sit down.”

“Then Ishkhan, who enters the hall once in a thousand times, joined in with impudent behavior, walking around far from his seat, as if on some important matter. As you can see, there is no connection on the mentioned topic,” Simonyan continued, referring to claims that the fight was over the genocide bill.

“Let me tell you more, to the literati: in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, such an article [against genocide denial] has existed for a long time, and both what was said and the subsequent commentary are lies and manipulation.”

Simonyan insists that the conflict had more to do with parliamentary procedure and disrespectful conduct, rather than the content of the proposed bill. He claims that the existing law already punishes genocide denial and that the opposition was using the moment to stir political drama.

The push for this bill came after a speech by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in January that shocked many Armenians around the world. During a visit to Switzerland, Pashinyan said Armenians must “understand what happened” in 1915 and what motivated the international campaign to recognize the genocide.

Many believed he was implying that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide may have been politically driven by foreign countries, particularly the Soviet Union, rather than a response to undeniable historical truth. His remarks were widely criticized by Armenian historians, retired diplomats, and genocide scholars. They say his words put into question the facts of the genocide and weaken Armenia’s global position on the issue.

Some believe this is part of a broader plan to improve relations with Turkey — a country that continues to deny the genocide ever happened.

This incident in Parliament is about more than just political rivalry — it’s about protecting national dignity, historical truth, and the memory of a people who endured unthinkable suffering.

Over three dozen countries, including the United States, France, and Germany, officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. And yet, the struggle continues — especially when members of Armenia’s own government seem to soften their stance or avoid clear language.

For Armenians, the genocide is not a matter of debate. It is a historical fact backed by countless documents, eyewitness testimonies, and global acknowledgment. Efforts to deny or downplay it — even from inside Armenia — are seen as a deep betrayal.

This moment is a reminder that defending the truth of the Armenian Genocide is not just the job of historians — it is the responsibility of every Armenian, inside and outside the homeland. Lawmakers, journalists, teachers, artists, and citizens must stand united in demanding respect for history, justice for victims, and clarity from their leaders.

Parliament must be a place of law, not violence. But when the fight is about truth and memory, emotions will run high. The Armenian people have endured too much to let their own voices be silenced — especially on the floor of their own government.

As the bill makes its way through debate, all eyes are on Armenia’s Parliament. The world is watching — but more importantly, so are the spirits of those who never got to see justice in their own time.