Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ajapahyan Sentenced: 2 Years in Jail for speaking out!
- Moldova Election Lessons
- EPC in Copenhagen, WSF in Warsaw
- PEACE Act politics
- Dismantling the Armenian Military
Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025
Show Notes
Summary
With Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan We cover Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan’s two-year sentence and what it signals in an lethargic Armenia, Moldova’s election and diaspora voting, the EU’s patterns of force ahead of Armenia’s 2026 vote, takeaways from the European Political Community (EPC) in Copenhagen and the Warsaw Security Forum (WSF), the politics of the U.S. PEACE Act, defense shifts including a shortened 18-month military service plan contrasted with acknowledged military serviceman shortage, and the internal fight over the stalled 44-day war report.
Main Topics Addressed
- Ajapahyan sentencing and public apathy
- Moldova vote, access issues, diaspora turnout
- EU posture before Armenia’s 2026 elections
- EPC Copenhagen and WSF Warsaw takeaways
- U.S. PEACE Act and freedom of expression risks
- Reconciling defense budget cuts, shortened military service, and military personnel shortages
- War report standoff in parliament
Key Questions Discussed
- What goal does Ajapahyan’s verdict serve in today’s politics?
- What lessons from Moldova matter for Armenia’s 2026 race?
- How do EU timing and optics shape Armenia’s field?
- Did EPC and Warsaw deliver anything concrete?
- How could the PEACE Act affect speech and politics?
- What trade-offs come with conscription cuts and budget shifts?
- Why is the 44-day war report being held back?
Thoughts from the Participants
- Benyamin: Warns of heightened political turbulence as Armenia approaches the 2026 elections.
- Hovik: Notes that Arman Tatoyan has officially entered Armenian politics and flags what this could mean for the opposition landscape.
Referenced Articles & Sources
- Armenian archbishop sentenced to 2 years in prison over alleged coup plot
- Prosecutor General’s Office statement on Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan case
- Daniel Ioannisyan on Ajapahyan speech complaint
- Moldova bars two pro-Russian parties from high-stakes parliamentary election
- How Sandu defeated Putin and what this victory could mean
- Kremlin Claims Moldova Barred Hundreds of Thousands From Voting in Russia
- EPC leaders closing session in Copenhagen (video)
- Pashinian, Aliyev Meet Again
- National Assembly adopts statement on establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Parliament majority drafts declaration endorsing peace deal, calls to avoid aggravating narratives
- ICYMI: Rep. Issa and Rep. Bilirakis Introduce the PEACE Act
- Preventing Escalation and Advancing Caucasus Engagement Act, draft text (PDF)
- Armenian Government Plans Shorter Military Service
- Armenian Official Admits Military Personnel Shortage
- Armenian servicemen return medals in protest against government policies
Wrap-up
Don’t forget to support us:
That’s our show! We hope you found it useful. Please find us on Social Media and follow us everywhere you get your Armenian news.
Thanks to Laura Osborn for the music on our podcasts.
Guests
Benyamin Poghosyan
Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan is a Senior Research Fellow at APRI Armenia, a Yerevan based think tank,and the Chairman of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies. He has served as the vice president for research and head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense Research University in Armenia. Dr. Poghosyan was a Distinguished Research Fellow at the US National Defense University College of International Security Affairs. He is a graduate from the US State Department Study of the US Institutes for Scholars 2012 Program on US National Security Policy Making. He holds a PhD in history and is a graduate from the 2006 Tavitian Program on International Relations at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
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.