Republic Party leadership defends Yerevan district head over attack on activist

Senior members of Armenia's pro-Western Hanrapetutyun (Republic) Party are defending their teammate Tigran Ter-Margaryan, the head of Yerevan’s Nor Nork district, after he assaulted civic activist Artur Chakhoyan on Wednesday.

 

Anahit Adamyan, a member of the party’s political council, downplayed the incident in an interview with Factor TV, questioning the legitimacy of civic activism. "I don't even understand what a 'civic activist' is," she remarked.

 

Adamyan claimed the incident was orchestrated to incite backlash. "Even before the altercation ended, social media was flooded with legal arguments and calls for Ter-Margaryan’s dismissal," she said, implying external influence.

 

When asked whether violent behavior is acceptable from public officials, especially from a party advocating closer ties with the EU, Adamyan replied: "There shouldn’t be officials who resort to violence, but when you're being provoked and insulted, you're expected to respond accordingly. This Moscow-backed campaign will fail."

 

The Republic Party, led by Aram Sargsyan, has been a vocal supporter of Armenia's EU membership, previously launching the EuroVote petition campaign.