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An emerging Armenian political party has sparked backlash after proposing the creation of a so-called “Ministry of Sex,” claiming it would ensure no woman in the country remains sexually unsatisfied and help reverse Armenia’s declining birth rate.
The proposal was echoed by Sargis Karapetyan, a co-founder of the newly formed Strong Armenia party ahead of upcoming elections. Karapetyan suggested that growing political activism among middle-aged women was driven by sexual frustration, a claim that immediately drew criticism.
When asked whether a government body should address the issue, Karapetyan said such a ministry could play a key role in boosting population growth, though he offered no clear policy measures.
The idea was first raised by sociologist Armen Khachikyan during a podcast discussion, where he linked women’s increased political engagement to sexual dissatisfaction. Karapetyan later embraced the concept, asking whether a “strong Armenia” could guarantee that women are no longer dissatisfied.
The remarks triggered swift condemnation from across the political and social spectrum. Sona Ghazaryan, a lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract party, labeled the comments “pure sexism,” accusing Karapetyan of stripping women of their agency and reducing them to crude campaign promises.
Feminist voices also pushed back strongly. Influencer Lucy Kocharyan warned against using women’s bodies as tools for political messaging, urging politicians not to cloak electoral ambition in sexual rhetoric.
Facing mounting criticism, Karapetyan later said his comments were taken out of context, arguing that Armenia’s leadership was uncomfortable with open discussions about societal problems. He accused the government of damaging the country’s population from within and insisted his broader goal was a “healthy society and a healthy Armenia.”
Karapetyan is the son of Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, whose arrest last year led to the formation of the Strong Armenia party. The party is expected to announce its prime ministerial candidate on February 12, with reports suggesting Narek Karapetyan could emerge as the nominee.
With elections approaching, Strong Armenia is polling second, trailing the ruling party, while a large share of voters remain undecided—signaling a volatile and unpredictable political contest.
