YEREVAN — Civil Contract parliamentary faction member Nazeli Baghdasaryan has called on male lawmakers who used offensive language during an October 29 altercation in Armenia’s National Assembly to publicly apologize to their female colleagues.
Speaking from the parliamentary podium, Baghdasaryan emphasized that her appeal was directed at representatives of both the ruling party and the opposition.
She noted that although lawmakers had apologized to the public and their constituents following the incident, they had failed to specifically address the women who were present in the chamber.
“I now want to address all the men here. Political views have absolutely nothing to do with this. Can you demonstrate the willingness to come to the National Assembly podium and apologize to the women present in this chamber? I find it difficult to believe that you use such language at home in the presence of your wives, children, and parents,” Baghdasaryan said.
During her remarks, she also proposed discussing ways to increase women’s representation on electoral lists, observing that female lawmakers had demonstrated greater restraint during the confrontation.
Addressing the consequences of the incident, Baghdasaryan stressed that neither political side could claim victory.
“Neither the opposition nor the government won. It was the Armenian people who lost, because what we witnessed was disgraceful,” she declared.
Concluding her speech, Baghdasaryan reiterated her call for male lawmakers to apologize directly to their female colleagues.
“My proposal remains open, gentlemen. Have the courage to stand at the National Assembly podium and apologize to your female colleagues,” she said.
The confrontation erupted on October 29 in the National Assembly chamber between lawmakers representing the ruling and opposition factions.
Speaker Ruben Rubinyan declared a recess and summoned parliamentary security personnel to the chamber. However, the altercation subsequently continued in a corridor adjacent to the assembly hall.
