VIDEO: "Don’t throw pens at each other". Tension rises at Yerevan City Hall

During today’s, November 19 session of the Yerevan City Council, the atmosphere became tense at one point. Following the remarks by Ani Khachatryan, the leader of the "Republic" faction, many members from both the opposition and ruling factions stood up and began shouting at one another. The situation escalated with insults flying back and forth. At one point, one of the attendees even threw a pen at someone.

Police officers entered the hall. Mayor Tigran Avinyan repeatedly urged for silence and calm, but no one paid heed. “Dear colleagues, silence, do not incite passions any further. Calm down, everybody. Mr. Sukiasyan, please stop yelling at each other and insulting one another. The citizens of Yerevan are watching this session; it concerns all factions. I must point this out, and I will have to address you as well, because you are not being correct either. Ms. Khachatryan, Mr. Sukiasyan, you are being given a warning. Let’s stay calm, we heard you, we understood; this whole thing has gone too far, please sit down,” said the mayor.

He requested not to insult each other: “Please refrain from using that kind of lexicon; the city of Yerevan belongs to us, and it really looks very ugly and reflects on all of us. I ask you to avoid labeling and to treat each other with respect. The conversation may be politically sharp, but it should be correct.”

A question from the audience directed at Avinyan asked whether he noticed the pen being thrown, to which the mayor initially responded that he hadn’t seen it, then added, “Don’t throw pens at each other, don’t insult each other.”