A senior figure in Armenia’s new Strong Armenia party is campaigning on sexual satisfaction, saying that in a "strong Armenia there will be no unsatisfied women."
Sargis Karapetyan, a co-founder of the party and the son of detained Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, appeared on the January 31 episode of the Triangle podcast, which he co-hosts with Levon Sargizov. The talk featured Armen Khachikyan, who claimed that increased political engagement by Armenian women online is driven by sexual dissatisfaction, according to reporting by OC Media.
Khachikyan told the hosts that frustration among mostly middle-aged women was fueling aggressive social media commentary and heightened political activism. Responding to the claim, Karapetyan asked his co-host whether it could be said that under a “strong Armenia there will be no unsatisfied women."
Sargizov joked that the goal would need the creation of a government body to oversee it. Khachikyan then suggested a “Ministry of Sex,” to which Karapetyan replied that Armenia’s demographic issues could not be resolved “without sex.”
The exchange sparked some controversy from political opponents. Sona Ghazaryan, a member of parliament from the ruling Civil Contract party, criticized the remarks in a Facebook post, describing them as sexist.
“Let's put aside that Sargis can't speak Armenian and didn't even master this word in the pre-election period, but what he says is pure sexism,” Ghazaryan wrote. “Deprive women of being subjects, bringing them down to the level of masculine fantasies and sinful promises. THIS IS DISGUSTING... return to the past will not be with all its manifestations.”
After the backlash, Karapetyan released a video statement on Instagram saying his comments had been taken out of context. In the video, he argued that Armenia is facing deep social problems and accused the current leadership of allowing issues such as drug addiction and gambling to harm the population. He said that “our people are being destroyed from within.”
Strong Armenia was formed after supporters of Samvel Karapetyan launched a movement called “In Our Own Way” in response to his arrest. Less than a month later, Karapetyan announced plans to create what he described as a new political force, positioning the party ahead of the 2026 parliamentary race.
Sargis Karapetyan, a co-founder of the party and the son of detained Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, appeared on the January 31 episode of the Triangle podcast, which he co-hosts with Levon Sargizov. The talk featured Armen Khachikyan, who claimed that increased political engagement by Armenian women online is driven by sexual dissatisfaction, according to reporting by OC Media.
Khachikyan told the hosts that frustration among mostly middle-aged women was fueling aggressive social media commentary and heightened political activism. Responding to the claim, Karapetyan asked his co-host whether it could be said that under a “strong Armenia there will be no unsatisfied women."
Sargizov joked that the goal would need the creation of a government body to oversee it. Khachikyan then suggested a “Ministry of Sex,” to which Karapetyan replied that Armenia’s demographic issues could not be resolved “without sex.”
The exchange sparked some controversy from political opponents. Sona Ghazaryan, a member of parliament from the ruling Civil Contract party, criticized the remarks in a Facebook post, describing them as sexist.
“Let's put aside that Sargis can't speak Armenian and didn't even master this word in the pre-election period, but what he says is pure sexism,” Ghazaryan wrote. “Deprive women of being subjects, bringing them down to the level of masculine fantasies and sinful promises. THIS IS DISGUSTING... return to the past will not be with all its manifestations.”
After the backlash, Karapetyan released a video statement on Instagram saying his comments had been taken out of context. In the video, he argued that Armenia is facing deep social problems and accused the current leadership of allowing issues such as drug addiction and gambling to harm the population. He said that “our people are being destroyed from within.”
Strong Armenia was formed after supporters of Samvel Karapetyan launched a movement called “In Our Own Way” in response to his arrest. Less than a month later, Karapetyan announced plans to create what he described as a new political force, positioning the party ahead of the 2026 parliamentary race.
