Armenia: Government Supporters Claim Fist Fight "Between Friends"

The Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia Party stress that a recent brawl between activists from the two parties, both members of Armenia's government coalition, does not undermine their political partnership. According to Armenian news sources, the fight broke out as party loyalists were holding competing campaign events in a Yerevan suburb in connection with the capital's May 31 City Council election.

Republican Party MP Arman Sahakian termed the May 12 scuffle a "provocation," but did not elaborate. "The incident was based on personal motives and has nothing to do with the parties," he told the pro-opposition A1plus news service. "Am I really supposed to know about all fights?"

Prosperous Armenia representatives insisted that their party's supporters did not start the fight. "We have never violated the rules of competition. . . . Questions should be directed to those who started this," Prosperous Armenia MP Naira Zograbian told A1plus.