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Today in History: Armenian Parliament Attack Kills Prime Minister, Speaker, Six

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On 27 October 1999, five gunmen led by journalist Nairi Hunanyan stormed Armenia’s National Assembly in Yerevan, opening fire on the plenary. The attack killed Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchyan and six other officials, shocking a reform-driven government that had just won a parliamentary majority.

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Story summary

On 27 October 1999, five gunmen led by journalist Nairi Hunanyan stormed Armenia’s National Assembly in Yerevan, opening fire on the plenary. The attack killed Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Assembly Speaker Karen Demirchyan and six other officials, shocking a reform-driven government that had just won a parliamentary majority.