Armenia opens case against Russian oligarch’s nephew

Armenian authorities have launched a criminal investigation against Narek Karapetyan, the nephew of detained Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan.

The case concerns allegations that Karapetyan may have attempted to evade mandatory military service through document forgery or other fraudulent means, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

The investigation is being handled by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

Samvel Karapetyan is a prominent Russian‑Armenian businessman and the founder and head of the Tashir Group, a major conglomerate with interests across Armenia and abroad.

In June 2025, he was detained by Armenian authorities after publicly criticising the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and voicing support for the Armenian Apostolic Church during a tense standoff with the state.

Karapetyan was initially placed in pre‑trial detention on charges that included calling for an illegal seizure of power. His arrest followed a law enforcement raid on his home in Yerevan.

In late 2025 and early 2026, the legal process continued to unfold: a court upheld his house arrest and bail arrangement in January, rejecting prosecutors’ requests to return him to custody.

By Aghakazim Guliyev