Video: MP Addresses Defense Minister's Wedding and Plays a Recording of Papikyan's Previous Speech

During a speech in the National Assembly today, Aragnaz Manukyan, a member of the 'Armenia' faction, played a recording of Defense Minister Suren Papikyan's previous remarks regarding restrictions on weddings and large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. He then reminded the assembly that just two days earlier, Papikyan had hosted a wedding and raised the question of whether the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic had been observed, noting that guests were required to present QR codes proving vaccination.

Manukyan’s speech was met with disruption from members of the Civil Contract party, who started making noise and interjecting, which displeased the session chair, National Assembly President Alen Simonian. He issued a warning once, but the disruptions continued. Eventually, Simonian expressed his irritation at the Civil Contract members: 'I will have them removed from the hall if there is any noise from the audience. Absolute silence in the hall.'