A massive physical altercation broke out live on broadcast during a session of the Armenian National Assembly today.

A verbal dispute between members of the ruling Civil Contract party and the opposition Strong Armenia bloc quickly escalated into a full-scale fistfight, requiring medical personnel to treat bloodied lawmakers. Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan purposely refused to cut the live video feed so the public could see the behavior of the MPs.

The underlying tension was triggered by a controversial draft bill aiming to establish a committee to investigate the Armenian Apostolic Church. The opposition considers the proposed committee entirely unconstitutional. 

Following the parliamentary chaos, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a press briefing addressing the nation's legal and diplomatic future: 

• Declaration of Independence Condemned: Pashinyan explicitly labeled Armenia’s 1990 Declaration of Independence an "anti-state text," arguing that moving away from its ideology is necessary for the country's survival. 
• New Constitution Pending: The text of a brand-new constitution is expected to be published within the month. Pashinyan framed a vote for the new constitution as a direct vote for institutionalized peace. 
• Peace Deal Ambitions: Pashinyan stated he would view it as a "personal failure" if he leaves office without a final, signed, and ratified peace agreement with Azerbaijan.