Armenian businessman rejects alleged ties to Pashinyan family

Armenian businessman Narek Nalbandyan has publicly denied having any personal, family or business ties to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his family or any political force.

“Various circles have repeatedly tried to link my name and business projects to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, members of his family, or the former authorities. I have repeatedly denied this information, and today I once again clearly state: I have no personal, family, or business ties with the current government, the former authorities, or any political force,” Nalbandyan said in a social media post.

Nalbandyan also endorsed Pashinyan’s position that no businessman should invoke the prime minister’s name for protection or seek to create the impression of having such backing.

His remarks came after Pashinyan said Nalbandyan was getting on his and his family’s nerves.

The prime minister made the comment in response to a journalist’s question about the businessman’s acquisition of the Hrazdan Cement Plant. Nalbandyan has been described in media reports as a businessman close to the authorities.

Pashinyan said he had no “favorite businessmen” and argued that Nalbandyan had already “gone beyond the bounds of what is tolerable.”

The prime minister added that he did not understand why Nalbandyan had not publicly rejected persistent media reports alleging that he was close to the Pashinyan family.

By Vafa Guliyeva