Former Member of Parliament Edmon Marukyan has sharply criticized the conduct of certain members of the ruling Civil Contract faction, describing their rhetoric as “a disgrace and a shame.”

In a Facebook post, Marukyan reacted to comments made in the National Assembly, calling out what he sees as unacceptable behavior by those representing Armenia both domestically and internationally.

“Supposedly tasked with managing Armenian-Turkish relations, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan, in an attempt to insult opposition figure and former President Robert Kocharyan and his son, claimed the people say Robert Kocharyan’s father is Turkish,” wrote Marukyan.

He continued, “Then another prominent Civil Contract MP, Arsen Torosyan, approached the podium and angrily declared: ‘Anyone who calls us Turkish—damn their mother, father, loved ones, and family too.’”

“This is how they attempt to normalize relations with Turkey, while our authorities condemn the burning of the Turkish flag,” Marukyan added. “You are a disgrace and a shame.”

“Yet, unfortunately, it is you who represent us, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, both at home and abroad,” his post concluded.

On May 14, a dispute and physical confrontation occurred in the National Assembly. Tensions rose during Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan’s speech, which followed an address by Levon Kocharyan of the Armenia faction. Kocharyan left the session hall amid the unrest.