VIDEO: I Will Do What I Want. Calm Down and Take Your Seats. Tensions Rise in Parliament

For the second time, claims about being an agent of influence are being put forward in the Parliament hall. This was stated by Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan today, January 17, during a session in the National Assembly, in response to the opposition legislators accusing Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan of being an agent of influence for Turkey.

Arshakyan said, “I just want to warn our opposition colleagues that trying to label someone as an agent of influence due to their presence in a revolution or any other time period in any country is the same as associating someone’s last name with being or not being an agent. Please look around you; you might discover questionable last names among others. But I would not advise that either, as it is a wrong approach.”

Ruben Rubinyan, who was presiding over the session, interrupted him and said, “I announce a warning, what was your name, Hripsime Stabulyan? I think you don’t understand well, you are mistaken. I’m calling on your entire group to calm down. I will do what I want.”

From the floor, someone said, “You can’t,” to which Rubinyan responded, yelling, “I can!” He quickly rose from his seat and moved down, escalating the situation. A moment later, he returned to his place and urged everyone, “Take your seats. Mr. Arshakyan, continue.”

As tensions remained high, Rubinyan announced a break, stating that the session would resume after a long recess.