Armenian Opposition Floats ‘Ministry of Sex’ Proposal to Ensure “No Unsatisfied Women”
A newly registered opposition political party in Armenia has sparked intense national and international controversy after floating the idea of creating a “Ministry of Sex”, a proposal its leaders claim could tackle female dissatisfaction and help reverse the country’s declining birth rate, PulseNets learnt.
The remarks were made by Sargis Karapetyan, a senior figure in the Strong Armenia (Armenia Strong) party and son of detained Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, during an episode of the Triangle podcast, which he co-hosts alongside Levon Sargizov, PulseNets reported.
During the discussion, sociologist Armen Khachikyan argued that the growing political activism of middle-aged Armenian women was rooted in sexual dissatisfaction. As the conversation progressed, Sargizov jokingly suggested the establishment of a government body to “solve” the issue, prompting Khachikyan to propose the name Ministry of Sex.
Karapetyan openly backed the idea, asking on air:
“Can we honestly say that in a strong Armenia there will be no unsatisfied women?”
He went further by linking the proposal directly to Armenia’s demographic crisis, insisting that:
“The population problem cannot be solved without sex.”
Strong Armenia emerged from the “Our Way” civic movement following Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest last year over alleged business-related offences. The party has since positioned itself as a hard anti-establishment force ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections.
Recent opinion polls obtained by PulseNets place Strong Armenia second with roughly 13 per cent voter support, trailing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party at 17 per cent, while a large share of the electorate remains undecided.
The comments have provoked swift and widespread backlash across Armenian society.
Member of Parliament Sona Ghazaryan denounced the remarks as deeply sexist and insulting to women. Feminist activist Lucy Kocharyan accused the party of dressing up what she described as a “pre-election campaign driven by sexual fantasy” in political language, PulseNets learnt.
Women’s rights organisations, academics, and civil society actors also condemned the proposal, describing it as misogynistic and dismissive of women’s legitimate political engagement. Critics argued that reducing female activism to sexual frustration trivialises real civic grievances and reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Online reactions ranged from ridicule to outrage. While some users mocked the proposal as absurd, others labelled it a form of “state-sanctioned prostitution” or dismissed it as a crude publicity stunt designed to attract attention ahead of the elections.
Following the backlash, Karapetyan claimed his comments had been taken out of context. He later accused the current administration of “destroying the population” through its governance, insisting the podcast discussion was meant to encourage open conversations about social health, PulseNets was told.
It is important to note that the proposal does not represent an official government policy. It remains a campaign pledge by an insurgent opposition party, with no endorsement from mainstream political forces or state institutions. Analysts widely view it as provocative rather than actionable.
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The controversy has attracted international media attention, with coverage by outlets including The Telegraph, Daily Mail, OC Media, and others, highlighting Armenia’s ongoing struggles with gender equality, demographic decline, and populist political messaging amid post-conflict pressures and shifting geopolitical realities.
As the June elections draw closer, Strong Armenia is expected to formally unveil its prime ministerial candidate on February 12, potentially Narek Karapetyan, nephew of Sargis Karapetyan, PulseNets learnt. Whether the party’s headline-grabbing proposal will translate into electoral gains or political damage remains an open question.
