Pashinyan’s office accuses Russian-Armenian oligarch’s nephew of evading political connections

A senior official in the Armenian prime minister’s office has publicly accused the nephew of a Russian oligarch of evading a direct answer regarding his alleged links to Armenia’s former political leadership.

Taron Chakhoyan, Deputy Chief of Staff to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, said that Narek Karapetyan—the nephew of Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, also known as Tashir Samo—has failed to clarify his relationship with his father, who previously shared power with former Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“Narek Karapetyan, the nephew of Tashir Samo (Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan), who constantly claims that he has nothing to do with the ‘former authorities,’ has still not answered one simple question: does he or does he not have any connection to his father, who shared power with Serzh Sargsyan?” Chakhoyan said in a video address.

Russian-Armenian oligarch, the owner of the Tashir Group, was arrested in June 2025 on charges of inciting power seizure after defending the Church against Pashinyan's perceived attacks. From jail, he launched the "Our Way" movement, accusing the government of anti-Christian policies.

By Vafa Guliyeva