Weekly Digest

• EP576: Asbed and Hovik examine Pashinyan’s confrontation with the Armenian Church, Armenia’s balancing act between Russia and the EU, the geopolitical implications of TRIPP, Iran’s military leadership realignment under wartime pressure, the Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact, and how these shifts reshape Armenia’s role in the South Caucasus.
• EP577: Richard Campbell discusses the global AI race, data center economics, energy constraints, and Armenia’s Firebird project, examining whether current AI infrastructure investments align with physical and economic realities.

News
One year after Washington's Armenia-Azerbaijan peace summit, regional tensions escalate as Aliyev threatens military action, Iran rejects TRIPP terms, and Pashinyan pursues EU integration while constitutional reform divides the opposition.

• EP573: Dr. Pietro Shakarian explores the parallels between Stalinist repression in Soviet Armenia and authoritarian practices under the Civil Contract regime, examining how incomplete historical reckoning leaves societies vulnerable to recognizing new forms of political control.
• EP574: We examine Armenia’s new parliament sworn in on August 2, 2026, the Armenia Alliance’s direct challenge to Civil Contract over Tigranashen’s territorial status, the government’s evasive responses on border red lines, Armenia’s challenge to Russia’s railway concession, and how TRIPP reshapes regional power dynamics in the South Caucasus.
• EP575: Hrant Mikaelian discusses Armenia’s Western pivot, the opening of the new parliament, Ruben Rubinyan’s appointment as speaker, Armenia-Russia-EAEU relations, European aid, the Armenian Church’s role in national identity, and Armenia’s economic direction amid geopolitical pressure.

News
One year after Trump-brokered peace, Armenia and Azerbaijan mark accord while Pashinyan faces mounting pressure from Russia, religious conflict, and domestic opposition challenges.

• EP570: Dr. Archil Sikharulidze discusses Russia’s shifting strategy in the South Caucasus, Georgia’s widening dispute with Europe, Armenia’s move away from Russian alignment, and how regional transit corridors reshape competition among Moscow, Brussels, and Washington.
• EP571: Hovik and Asbed examine escalating regional tensions as Ukraine expands operations into the Caspian Sea, striking Iranian and Russian assets, while analyzing how this merger of northern and southern conflicts affects Armenia, Kazakhstan’s energy security, and Pashinyan’s diplomatic positioning amid new pressure from Western capitals following Aliyev’s recent visits to Germany and Berlin.
• EP572: Christine Arakelian discusses American foreign policy fractures, the Iran war, NATO 3.0 and Europe’s militarization, Turkey’s rising regional influence, Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary elections and managed democracy, and the risks of TRIPP as Armenia pivots toward an undefined Western relationship.

News
Tensions between Pashinyan and Putin over Armenia's EU trajectory, Russian trade sanctions, and a forced choice between Moscow and Brussels dominate regional developments as a new parliament convenes.

• EP568: Asbed and Hovik examine escalating US-Iran war tensions following the June ceasefire collapse, Konstantin Sokolov’s appointment to lead TRIPP+ while acquiring Armenia’s Teghut mine, and Pashinyan’s political vulnerabilities including charges against Archbishop Galstanyan and prolonged Armenian POW detention.
• EP569: Anthony Barsamian discusses Armenian Diaspora advocacy, U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the role of Armenia’s government in genocide recognition efforts, the suspension of Israeli recognition, the Armenian Church’s place in Armenian life, and Armenia’s geopolitical positioning between East and West.

News
Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijani custody demand government accountability; opposition faces legal crackdowns; regional powers maneuver as US-Iran tensions escalate near Armenia's borders.

• EP567: We discuss NATO’s 36th summit in Ankara, escalating Iran war developments, examining NATO’s defense spending surge, Trump’s shift on Turkey and F-35 access, Ukraine aid commitments, and what these geopolitical shifts mean for Armenia and the South Caucasus amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations.

News
Azerbaijan insists Armenia amend its constitution before signing a final peace treaty, while TRIPP corridor ratification advances and domestic political tensions escalate over opposition arrests.

• EP564: Hovik and Asbed analyze Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruling upholding the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election results, the disqualification of Prosperous Armenia votes, Civil Contract’s three-fifths majority, the opposition’s parliamentary leverage, and what these outcomes mean for Armenian sovereignty amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process negotiations and regional pressures.
• EP565: Dr. Sergey Markedonov examines Russia’s strategic bandwidth problem in Ukraine, the geopolitical stakes of TRIPP in Syunik, and Pashinyan’s Western pivot following Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary election.
• EP566: Dmitry Suslov analyzes Russia’s strategic position across Ukraine, Europe’s rearmament, Armenia’s Western pivot after the 2026 election, and the future of Moscow’s influence in the South Caucasus.

News
Armenia's opposition takes parliamentary seats despite rejecting election results as fraudulent; Pashinyan pursues constitutional change and TRIPP corridor while managing tensions with Iran, Russia, and internal political repression.

• EP562: Hovik and Asbed examine Israel’s historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide amid shifting geopolitical tensions, Russia’s escalating warnings toward Armenia, and the post-election standoff as the Constitutional Court prepares to rule on opposition challenges to the legitimacy of the June 2026 parliamentary elections.
• EP563: Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian examines the Iran-US MOU, Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary election aftermath and Constitutional Court proceedings, Russian economic pressure on Armenia, and Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

News
Armenia's Constitutional Court upheld contested June 7 election results, opposition leaders pledged legal challenges to a new diaspora voting restriction, and Israel's genocide recognition sparked regional tensions while drawing Armenia's muted response.

• EP560: Arman Grigoryan discusses US-Iran negotiations and their implications for TRIPP, regional power dynamics, and Armenia’s contested 2026 parliamentary election aftermath.
• EP561: We examine the fallout from Armenia’s 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Elections, including six opposition parties challenging results at the Constitutional Court, escalating political persecutions targeting opposition figures, Russia’s continued economic pressure on Pashinyan’s government, US-Iran ceasefire negotiations and their regional implications, and a new Armenia-Azerbaijan telecommunications agreement that raises cybersecurity and strategic dependency concerns.

News
Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections dominate the week as opposition parties challenge results in Constitutional Court, while post-election crackdowns intensify and the Israeli Cabinet voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide despite Turkish objections.

• EP558: Hovik Manucharyan and Asbed Bedrossian examine Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary election results, shifting Armenia-Georgia relations amid EU corridor initiatives, and a landmark US-Iran interim agreement that reshapes regional security architecture.
• EP559: Hrant Mikaelian examines the disputed aftermath of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary election, discussing electoral fraud allegations, government threats against opposition parties, Armenia-Russia tensions, EU support for Armenian exports, and why political polling failed to predict the result.

News
Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections yielded Pashinyan's third consecutive victory but triggered constitutional challenges from six opposition groups, mass arrests, and deepening geopolitical tensions with Russia.

• EP556: We analyze the disputed results of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary election, examining Civil Contract’s contested majority, alleged irregularities and invalid ballots, the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary report, the last-minute exclusion of Prosperous Armenia, opposition arrests and pressure, and what a three-fifths majority could mean for Armenia’s courts, institutions, and foreign policy.
• EP557: Arthur G. Martirosyan examines Armenia’s contested 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, discussing whether the vote was free and fair, how state pressure and Western backing shaped the outcome, Pashinyan’s post-election crackdown against the established Opposition, and what a Civil Contract supermajority would mean for Armenia’s governance and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process.

News
Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections saw Pashinyan's Civil Contract party secure a majority amid disputed fraud allegations, while the West celebrates the outcome and Russia withholds endorsement, setting the stage for constitutional conflicts over peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.

• EP553: We examine Armenia’s May 28 Independence Day parade as election theater, Marco Rubio’s push for critical minerals deals and the TRIPP framework, and the strategic risks Armenia faces from Russia and Iran as the country heads into the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.
• EP554: Dr. Philippe Raffi Kalfayan returns from IODA’s second election observation mission to report a sharply deteriorating pre-election climate marked by arrests of opposition figures, state intimidation of voters, misuse of public resources, and widespread fear among citizens.
• EP555: Rafael Ishkhanyan of the Armenian Center for Political Rights examines how state institutions selectively enforce laws against opposition figures while ignoring alleged government abuses, including wiretap leaks, weaponized hate speech prosecutions, threats against political opponents, and military conscription used as electoral coercion.

News
Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections test Pashinyan's Western pivot amid Russian pressure, mass opposition arrests, strategic U.S. engagement through TRIPP, and the country's post-Karabakh (Nagorno Karabakh) geopolitical realignment.

• EP550: We examine the tightening political climate in Armenia ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections, analyzing Marco Rubio’s sudden visit, new polling data showing stark divergences between IRI and MPG, hidden voter patterns that may reveal concealed opposition support, TRIPP polarization, escalating arrests and threats against opposition figures, and Pashinyan’s incendiary campaign rhetoric including his ‘Why are you alive?’ outburst.
• EP551: Arthur Khachatryan of Hayastan Dashinq discusses Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary election, foreign interference, election fraud concerns, the opposition platform, TRIPP, military spending claims, and Russia’s economic pressure on Armenia.

News
As Armenia heads toward June 7 parliamentary elections, Pashinyan faces pressure from Russia while backing from Trump, with opposition arrests continuing and critical TRIPP corridor agreements signed with the United States.

• EP547: We examine Pashinyan’s violent campaign rhetoric, the abuse of state resources ahead of Armenia’s June 7 election, selective law enforcement against the opposition, the worsening Armenia-Russia relationship, and the vandalism of an Armenian church in Javakhk.
• EP548: We survey all 17 parties and 2 alliances registered for Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, walking through each participant’s leadership, polling numbers, platform, and geopolitical orientation.
• EP549: Political scientist Edgar Elbakyan joins the hosts to examine Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary election as a potential existential contest, covering polling methodology under fear, divergent survey results, the crowded political field, and whether opposition parties are prepared for a post-election confrontation.

News
Armenia's June 7 parliamentary campaign turned sharply confrontational as security forces raided opposition offices, Russia escalated economic pressure through export bans, and Pashinyan announced new railway connectivity through Turkey while signaling further territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.