The Armenian National Assembly will hold an urgent discussion on the humanitarian situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) behind closed doors on Tuesday.

MP Artsvik Minasyan from the opposition Hayastan (Armenia) bloc spoke against the closed meeting, saying that the matter is of great public interest.

Ruling Civil Contract faction MP Hayk Konjoryan argued that the issue is of great public interest not only in Armenia, but also outside the country.

“Debates on the matter may contain security issues concerning Artsakh and Armenia, which we cannot discuss openly or directly,” he noted.

“We cannot afford to discuss Armenia’s national and state interests and the security situation in Artsakh in an open format," Konjoryan said.

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan are also set to participate in the discussion at the suggestion of the opposition.

MPs voted 66 to 18 with 1 abstention to hold debates on the matter behind closed doors.