Category: Human Rights

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman and prior to that rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO.

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Edmon Marukyan

Conversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.

We’ll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his party’s vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.

What is Bright Armenia’s vision for post

Guest(s):

• Edmon Marukyan

Conversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.

We’ll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his party’s vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.

What is Bright Armenia’s vision for post

Guest(s):

• Lara Aharonian
• Robert Avetisyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Security situation on the ground;
• Diplomatic activity, short & long term goals;
• Humanitarian impact in Artsakh & Armenia;
• Effect of social media on the war.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Asbed Kotchikian

Resident Panelists:

• Lara Aharonian: Co-founder & co-director of the Women’s Resource Center NGO in Yerevan
• Robert Avetisyan: Representative of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the US

Episode 21 Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 Full details: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201012.html Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)

Guest(s):

• Lara Aharonian
• Robert Avetisyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Security situation on the ground;
• Diplomatic activity, short & long term goals;
• Humanitarian impact in Artsakh & Armenia;
• Effect of social media on the war.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Asbed Kotchikian

Resident Panelists:

• Lara Aharonian: Co-founder & co-director of the Women’s Resource Center NGO in Yerevan
• Robert Avetisyan: Representative of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the US

Episode 21 Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 Full details: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201012.html Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Appointment
• Armenia’s Growing National Debt
• Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
• Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
  • Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
  • Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
• Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
• Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Appointment
• Armenia’s Growing National Debt
• Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
• Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
  • Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
  • Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
• Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
• Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Judicial Reforms, Data Protection and Privacy - 09/05/2020

Conversations on Groong

Armenia has European grade laws in the areas of finance, business, data protection and privacy. What is preventing Armenia from achieving its full potential in foreign direct investment (FDI)? Why do many Armenian startups incorporate in foreign countries, and use Armenia as their offshore labor resource?

Our Guest is David Sandukhchyan is a lawyer with 20 years of experience in telecommunications, cyber law, media and personal data protection. He started his legal career as an Internet freedom advocate and

Judicial Reforms, Data Protection and Privacy - 09/05/2020

Conversations on Groong

Armenia has European grade laws in the areas of finance, business, data protection and privacy. What is preventing Armenia from achieving its full potential in foreign direct investment (FDI)? Why do many Armenian startups incorporate in foreign countries, and use Armenia as their offshore labor resource?

Our Guest is David Sandukhchyan is a lawyer with 20 years of experience in telecommunications, cyber law, media and personal data protection. He started his legal career as an Internet freedom advocate and

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020

This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.

Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past week’s headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyan’s

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020

This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.

Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past week’s headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyan’s

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 07/26/2020

Topics:

• Panel: War roundup / Artsakh
• Conversation: National Security Doctrine
• Panel: National Security Doctrine

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Karen Vrtanesyan
• Alen Zamanyan

A Conversation with

• Karena Avedissian (special guest)

Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 07/26/2020

Topics:

• Panel: War roundup / Artsakh
• Conversation: National Security Doctrine
• Panel: National Security Doctrine

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Karen Vrtanesyan
• Alen Zamanyan

A Conversation with

• Karena Avedissian (special guest)

Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020