Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ukraine War, Trump - Putin Upcoming Summit
- Israel-Gaza “Cease Fire”
- Armenian Government Repressions Accelerate
Episode 479 | Recorded: October 20, 2025
Show Notes
Summary
We spoke with Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian about three linked fronts that shape Armenia’s risk picture today: the Ukraine war and a possible Trump–Putin meeting in Budapest, the Gaza ceasefire push and the roles of Qatar and Turkey, and widening political prosecutions in Armenia, including arrests of senior clergy and opposition figures. We also looked at the risk of strikes on Iran, why nearby corridors matter for Tehran’s calculus, and how these external pressures feed back into Armenia’s domestic scene. The conversation focused on the week ending October 19, 2025.
Main Topics Addressed
- Ukraine war inflection points and outcomes
- Budapest meeting optics and Orban’s role
- Gaza ceasefire mechanics and mediators
- Risks and triggers for strikes on Iran
- Corridors and Iran’s view of Armenia
- Arrests of clergy and opposition in Armenia
Key Questions Discussed
- What would Washington consider success in Ukraine, and how would that shape Russia’s posture in the South Caucasus?
- If Trump and Putin meet in Budapest, what signals should Armenia watch for before and after the meeting?
- Is the Gaza ceasefire a pause or a bridge to a broader deal, and how central are Qatar and Turkey in that process?
- How real is near-term escalation against Iran, and what indicators would precede it?
- What goals drive the arrests of clergy, lawyers, and mayors in Armenia, and what does this say about rule of law?
Thoughts from the Participants
- Dziunik: Sharm el-Sheikh was optics, not substance. The core struggle is over Armenian identity, not a narrow Armenia–Azerbaijan frame.
- Hovik: The Armenian Church is integral to identity, and attempts to reshape it will not succeed.
Referenced Articles & Sources
- Washington Post, on reported Russia–Ukraine terms and Trump–Putin context:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/18/putin-trump-donetsk-war-ukraine/ - Responsible Statecraft, on risk of new Israel strikes on Iran:
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-new-attacks-iran/ - Reuters, on efforts to bring Azerbaijan and Central Asian states into the Abraham Accords:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-eyes-bringing-azerbaijan-central-asian-nations-into-abraham-accords-2025-08-01/ - Azatutyun, on church and opposition-related arrests:
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33559754.html
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33561617.html
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33560730.html
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33561736.html
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33562765.html
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33562833.html - International Commission of Jurists, on detention of defense lawyer Alexander Kochubayev:
https://www.icj.org/armenia-icj-condemns-detention-of-defence-lawyer-alexander-kochubaev-and-calls-for-his-immediate-release/ - Pastinfo item referenced in discussion (see outline for specific link):
https://pastinfo.am/
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
Dziunik Aghajanian
Ms. Dziunik Aghajanian has served Armenia through the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and most recently as a diplomat, as Armenia’s Ambassador to such countries as the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Indonesia. She received her education at Yerevan State University, Columbia University in NY, and Uppsala University in Sweden.
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.