Tevan Poghosyan - State Sovereignty Day, TRIPP Trap, Reactions, Kitchen Sink | Ep 464, Aug 24, 2025 [EP464]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
- Tevan Poghosyan, Former MP, Heritage Party
Topics:
- August 23: Armenia’s declaration of State Sovereignty
- The TRIPP Trap
- Iran - Pezeshkian’s Visit
- Russia - Overchuk’s visit
- The Kitchen Sink
Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025
Show Notes
This Week in Review features Tevan Poghosyan, who joins us to discuss the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s Declaration of State Sovereignty, the secrecy and dangers surrounding the Washington-brokered TRIPP (Trump Route) agreements, Iran’s mixed response to the corridor following President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Yerevan, and Russia’s quiet but firm reminders of its enduring leverage in Armenia. We also touch on the Gaza genocide, the importance of unity for Armenians, and developments in Armenian politics including Narek Karapetyan’s videos, Jirayr Libaridian’s analysis, Russia’s response to pro-Azeri voices, Pashinyan’s defense budget stance, and more in the Kitchen Sink.
Key Questions Discussed
- What does Armenia’s sovereignty mean today, 35 years after its declaration?
- Why is the Armenian government keeping the US-Armenia/TRIPP agreements secret?
- What “security guarantees” can Armenia realistically expect from a U.S.-backed corridor?
- Is Aliyev sincere about peace, given his rhetoric of revenge?
- Did Pezeshkian leave Armenia with more questions than answers about Iran’s red lines?
- How is Russia signaling its strategy while avoiding a new front with the West?
Thoughts from the Participants
- Hovik: The Gaza genocide continues, with aid weaponized through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, whose chairman is reportedly one David Papazian.
- Tevan: Remember and celebrate Artsakh Independence Day on September 2, so that Armenians will return one day.
- Asbed: Armenian unity is not optional, it is strategic for survival.
Kitchen Sink
- Narek Karapetyan’s Video Address exposing inflated school construction costs.
- Jirayr Libaridian’s Article echoing Pashinyan’s positions while ignoring Artsakh.
- Russia cracking down on pro-Azeri pundits by labeling them foreign agents.
- Pashinyan hiring U.S. lawyers to fight the Stockholm Arbitration Court ruling on ENA.
- Defense budget cuts despite Azerbaijani buildup.
- Arsen Torosyan resigns as MP, rumored to take another ministerial post.
- Trump’s gaffe claiming to have ended conflict between “Azerbaijan and Albania.”
Referenced Articles & Sources
- Nikol Pashinyan and Donald Trump sign Armenia-US Memorandums of Understanding
- President Ilham Aliyev Meets with Kalbajar Residents, Presents Apartment Keys
- Pezeshkian’s Visit to Armenia and Iran’s Regional Strategy
- Masoud Pezeshkian on X (Aug 2025)
- Russian Vice-Premier Visits Armenia
- Russian Official Visits Yerevan, Says Some Details of U.S.-Backed Transit Route Remain Unclear
- Rights Group Files Legal Complaint Over Armenian Businessman’s Role in Gaza Humanitarian Fund
- Narek Karapetyan’s Video Address (YouTube)
- Jirayr Libaridian on the Trump-Aliyev-Pashinyan Meeting (Aravot.am)
- Sergei Markov Declared a Foreign Agent in Russia
- Շվեդական ապտակի գինը. Փաշինյանի կառավարությունը 3,25 մլն դոլար կտրամադրի ամերիկյան ընկերությանը Ստոկհոլմի արբիտրաժային դատարանում ՀՀ շահերը պաշտպանելու համար (168.am, Armenian)
- Armenian Government Signals Cap On Defense Spending
- Trump Says He Ended Hostilities Between “Aberbaijan and Albania”
- Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution system must be dismantled
- UN - UN experts call for immediate dismantling of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – Press Release
- Militarized Aid Distribution in Gaza — Institutionalizing the Weaponization of Aid and Reestablishing Israeli Military Presence
Wrap-up
Links and Resources
That’s our Week in Review, we hope you found it helpful. We invite your feedback and your suggestions, you can find us on most social media and podcast platforms.
Thanks to Laura Osborn for the music on our podcasts.
Guests
Tevan Poghosyan
Tevan Poghosyan is president of the International Center for Human Development. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP in the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. From 1997 to 1999 he served as the Nagorno-Karabakh Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.
Hosts
Asbed Bedrossian
Asbed Bedrossian is an IT professional with extensive experience in enterprise IT infrastructure, IT security, enterprise applications, data center operations, high performance computing, ITSM, ITPM, and more.
Asbed is founder of the Armenian News Network Groong (ca. 1989/1990) and co-founder of the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020.
Hovik Manucharyan
Hovik Manucharyan is an information security engineer who moved from Seattle to Armenia in 2022. He co-founded the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020 and has been a contributor to Groong News since the late 1990s.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by Hovik Manucharyan on the ANN/Groong podcast are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of his employer or any other organization.