Rafael Ishkhanyan
Rafael Ishkhanyan is a lawyer specializing in human rights, particularly freedom of assembly and expression. He coordinates the monitoring of peaceful assemblies at the Helsinki Committee of Armenia and is a member of the ODIHR Panel of Experts on Freedom of Assembly and Association. In 2023, together with colleagues, he co founded the Armenian Center for Political Rights, a watchdog organization focusing on detecting, responding to, and preventing political persecution and safeguarding political rights.
Key Topics
- International Law & Justice— International law dimensions of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, including ICJ cases, war crimes accountability, and Geneva Convention violations.
- Human Rights— Human rights abuses, accountability, and justice — covering Armenian prisoners of war, civilian casualties, international law violations, and the struggle for human dignity in the South Caucasus.
- 2026 Parliamentary Elections— The June 2026 Armenian parliamentary elections, the parties competing, campaign dynamics, electoral integrity concerns, and the stakes for Armenian democracy.
- Armenian News— Groong's weekly round-up of the latest news from Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian diaspora, covering politics, society, and international affairs.
- Armenian Politics— Armenia's domestic political landscape, including the government, opposition parties, civil society movements, and democratic governance debates.
Episodes Featuring Rafael Ishkhanyan
Spotlight on Silence: Selective Justice in Armenia’s Election Campaign | Ep 555, Jun 6, 2026 [EP555]
Spotlight on Silence: InJustice in Armenia | Ep 497, Dec 18, 2025 [EP497]
Spotlight on Silence: Surveillance State: Armenia’s Biometric Crackdown | Ep 446, Jun 15, 2025 [EP446]
Rafael Ishkhanyan - Report on Police Brutality on June 12, Armenia High Pretrial Detention Rate, Avetik Chalabyan | Ep 343 - July 11, 2024 [EP343]
Rafael Ishkhanyan - Protesters Arrested, MPs Beaten, Artsakh Mayors Jailed | Ep 336 - Jun 16, 2024 [EP336]
Rafael Ishkhanyan - Political Prisoners in Armenia | Armenia’s Hate Speech Laws | Cases: Samuel Vardanyan. Narek Malyan. Armen Grigorian | Ep 325 - Apr 22, 2024 [EP325]