ANN/Groong — The English-Language Armenian Podcast

• 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.

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Topics:

• Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Alliance
• Iran War Update
• Catholicos on Trial
• EAEU Meeting in Cholpon-Ata
• Corruption & Persecutions

Episode 576 | Recorded: August 10, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #ArmenianChurch #GareginII #TRIPP #ArmeniaRussia #SouthCaucasus #Groong

• 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.

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Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• New Armenian Parliament
• Armenia-Russia-EAEU Relations
• EUropean Aid for Armenia
• Church & National Identity
• Armenian Economy

Episode 575 | Recorded: August 4, 2026

#Armenia #Russia #EuropeanUnion #ArmenianPolitics #ArmeniaRussia #ArmenianChurch #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics

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Topics:

• New parliament is sworn in
• Tigranashen and Armenia’s territorial red lines
• Civil Contract’s evasive enclave answers
• Armenia challenges Russia’s railway concession
• TRIPP reshapes regional power and transit

Episode 574 | Recorded: August 3, 2026

#ArmenianNews #Tigranashen #ArmenianRailways #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #ArmeniaRussia #ZangezurCorridor #Geopolitics

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Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• Erasing memory across Yerevan
• Great Purge in Soviet Armenia
• Khanjyan’s assassination and Beria
• Repression of Armenia’s national institutions
• Remembering Stalinist repression
• Historical parallels with modern Armenia
• Attacks on memory and Church
• Opposition strategy after the election

Episode 573 | Recorded: July 31, 2026

#Armenia #GreatPurge #AghasiKhanjyan #PietroShakarian #Artsakh #ArmenianChurch #PoliticalRepression #MemoryUnderSiege #Authoritarianism #SovietArmenia

• 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.

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Guest(s):

• Christine A. Arakelian

Topics:

• US Foreign Policy & the Fracture of MAGA
• Iran and the Risk of Forever Wars
• NATO 3.0 and Europe’s Militarization
• Post-2026 Election Armenia
• TRIPP and Pashinyan’s Pivot to the West

Episode 572 | Recorded: July 29, 2026

#ForeverWars #NATO #IranWar #Armenia #TRIPP #MAGA #USForeignPolicy #SouthCaucasus

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Topics:

• Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
• Iran warns of a wider regional response
• Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
• Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
• Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
• Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
• Housing policy expose domestic failures

Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026

#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics