Opposition lawmaker stripped of parliamentary immunity in Armenia

Armenia's parliament has stripped opposition lawmaker Mher Sahakyan of his parliamentary immunity at the official request of the Prosecutor General's Office allowing his criminal prosecution.

The prosecutors’ petition came after a March 31 incident during the closed session of the parliamentary committee on state-legal issues.

Brawl in the parliament

According to many eyewitnesses, Mher Sahakyan from Hayastan (Armenia) alliance punched chairman of the parliament committee on legal affairs Vladimir Vardanyan during a debate and ran away. Vardanyan, who represents the ruling Civil Contract party, suffered an injury to his left eyebrow and was treated in hospital following the incident.

Sahakyan was placed under arrest on suspicion of “hooliganism,” but was released three days later. Under Armenian law, an MP cannot be held in detention without a charge and without the National Assembly’s permission for more than three days.

The General Prosecutor's Office said that the investigation has obtained sufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings against Sahakyan on charges of hooliganism and inflicting minor injury to health.

Sahakyan's reaction

Before the vote, Sahakyan said he would endorse the petition because he was interested in revealing the truth. He said that Vladimir Vardanyan was the first to start the conflict.