Armenian PM takes aim at businessman over family link claims

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sharply criticized businessman Narek Nalbandyan, saying the entrepreneur’s alleged association with his family has become “beyond the bounds of what is tolerable.”

Pashinyan made the remarks during a briefing in response to a question about Nalbandyan’s acquisition of the Hrazdan Cement Plant. The businessman has been described in Armenian media as being close to the authorities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Pashinyan said he has no “favorite businessmen” and questioned why Nalbandyan had not publicly rejected persistent reports alleging close ties to the prime minister’s family.

The prime minister instructed law enforcement authorities to examine the matter, warning that if it is established that Nalbandyan or any other businessman is deliberately creating an impression of close ties to his family, “the reaction will be the harshest.”

Pashinyan also issued a broader warning regarding corruption and alleged embezzlement, saying that “whoever steals billions from Armenia will not escape responsibility by hiding behind a stretcher.”

The comment appeared to refer to former Armenian State Revenue Committee Chairman Gagik Khachatryan, who was detained on September 1 following searches conducted as part of a criminal investigation into alleged large-scale bribery and money laundering.

Khachatryan was subsequently brought to court on a stretcher.

By Vafa Guliyeva