Alen Simonyan

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Alen Simonyan has served as President of the National Assembly of Armenia since 2021, making him the Speaker of parliament and one of the most senior figures in the Civil Contract government. A close political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan , Simonyan has been a prominent voice in Armenian politics on issues ranging from the peace process with Azerbaijan to the country’s relationship with Russia and Western institutions.

Known for outspoken public statements, Simonyan has frequently made headlines for his comments on foreign policy, on Armenia’s departure from Russian-led security structures, and on domestic political opponents. His statements on relations with Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan have at times drawn both praise and controversy.

Groong episodes covering Alen Simonyan address his role in parliamentary proceedings, his public commentary on foreign policy and domestic political affairs, and his position within the Civil Contract leadership structure as Armenia heads toward the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Alen Simonyan.

The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video

Topics:

  • Court rubber stamps stolen elections
  • Von der Leyen in the South Caucasus
  • EU connectivity push in Caucasus
  • Rubinyan vs. Simonyan
  • Post-election opposition raids begin
  • IMEI or IMEI not

Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState

The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics

Topics:

  • Court rubber stamps stolen elections
  • Von der Leyen in the South Caucasus
  • EU connectivity push in Caucasus
  • Rubinyan vs. Simonyan
  • Post-election opposition raids begin
  • IMEI or IMEI not

Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState

Transcript: The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Transcript

In this episode of Groong Week in Review for July 5, 2026, Hovik and Asbed analyze Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruling upholding the disputed 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election results. We examine 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.

Hovik & Asbed - Iran War, April 2016 War, Armenia & Russia, Politics & Election | Ep 530, Apr 5, 2026 [EP530]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Politics, Election, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, European Union, Russia, Georgia, Turkey | Series: cog, video

Topics:

  • Iran War Update
  • 2016 April War
  • Aftermath of Pashinyan in Moscow
  • Domestic Politics & Election

Episode 530 | Recorded: April 7, 2026

#Groong #Armenia

Hovik & Asbed - Iran War, April 2016 War, Armenia & Russia, Politics & Election | Ep 530, Apr 5, 2026 [EP530]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Politics, Election, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, European Union, Russia, Georgia, Turkey

Topics:

  • Iran War Update
  • 2016 April War
  • Aftermath of Pashinyan in Moscow
  • Domestic Politics & Election

Episode 530 | Recorded: April 7, 2026

#Groong #Armenia

Transcript: Hovik & Asbed - Iran War, April 2016 War, Armenia & Russia, Politics & Election | Ep 530, Apr 5, 2026 [EP530]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 8, 2026 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Politics, Election, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, European Union, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Transcript

In this Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discussed the escalating US-Israeli war on Iran and the danger of a wider regional catastrophe; we reflected on the tenth anniversary of the April 2016 Four-Day War and what it revealed about Armenia’s military and diplomatic posture; we examined the fallout from Pashinyan’s Moscow visit and the increasingly blunt Russian response, and reviewed the fast-moving Armenian election campaign, including pressure on the opposition, EU involvement, and the emerging strategies of major the various alliances.

Hrant Mikaelian - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, Sumgait Pogroms | Ep 520, Mar 1, 2026 [EP520]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 4, 2026 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, USA, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, China, BRICS, Ukraine, Middle East, Geopolitics, NATO, Syria | Series: wir, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • US and Israel launch war against Iran
  • Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
  • Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
  • Armenia leadership silent
  • Sumgait remembered

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 3, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

Hrant Mikaelian - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, Sumgait Pogroms | Ep 520, Mar 1, 2026 [EP520]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 4, 2026 | Category: Iran, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, USA, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, China, BRICS, Ukraine, Middle East, Geopolitics, NATO, Syria

Guest:

Topics:

  • US and Israel launch war against Iran
  • Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
  • Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
  • Armenia leadership silent
  • Sumgait remembered

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 3, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

Asbed & Hovik - Iran, Varchaband, War on Church, Mehmet Oz, Strong Armenia, Noragyugh | Ep 512, Feb 1, 2026 [EP512]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, BRICS, Russia, Turkey, China, India, Ukraine | Series: wir, video

Topics:

  • Iran Conflict
  • Varchaband
  • War on Armenian Church
  • Mehmet Oz vs Armenian Americans
  • Narek Karapetyan and Strong Armenia
  • A Big Beautiful Noragyugh

Episode 512 | Recorded: February 2, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #TrumpArmada #ArmenianChurch #Pashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora

Asbed & Hovik - Iran, Varchaband, War on Church, Mehmet Oz, Strong Armenia, Noragyugh | Ep 512, Feb 1, 2026 [EP512]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, BRICS, Russia, Turkey, China, India, Ukraine

Topics:

  • Iran Conflict
  • Varchaband
  • War on Armenian Church
  • Mehmet Oz vs Armenian Americans
  • Narek Karapetyan and Strong Armenia
  • A Big Beautiful Noragyugh

Episode 512 | Recorded: February 2, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #TrumpArmada #ArmenianChurch #Pashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora

Hayk Mamijanyan - Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia, Vagharshapat, RPA Strategy | Ep 487, Nov 19, 2025 [EP487]

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Geopolitics, European Union, Iran | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
  • Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
  • Republican Party Election Strategy
  • Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia

Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025

Hayk Mamijanyan - Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia, Vagharshapat, RPA Strategy | Ep 487, Nov 19, 2025 [EP487]

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Geopolitics, European Union, Iran

Guest:

Topics:

  • Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
  • Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
  • Republican Party Election Strategy
  • Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia

Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025

Arthur Khachikyan - Imnemnimi Podcasters Arrested, Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia | Ep 485, Nov 14, 2025 [EP485]

Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Russia, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, China, Israel, Turkey, India | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Imnemnimi Podcasters
  • What are the Government’s Real Intentions?
  • Silence of the West
  • Call to All Media: Cover Aggressions Against Freedom of Expression in Armenia!

Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025

Arthur Khachikyan - Imnemnimi Podcasters Arrested, Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia | Ep 485, Nov 14, 2025 [EP485]

Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Russia, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, China, Israel, Turkey, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Imnemnimi Podcasters
  • What are the Government’s Real Intentions?
  • Silence of the West
  • Call to All Media: Cover Aggressions Against Freedom of Expression in Armenia!

Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025

Benyamin  Poghosyan - Ukraine War update, Pashinyan’s Persecution of Church and Opposition intensifies | Ep 483, Nov 2, 2025 [EP483]

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, USA, Armenian Church, Artsakh Blockade, China, Economy, Genocide, India, Iran, Middle East, NATO | Series: video, wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine war status and U.S.–Russia dynamics
  • Church–state tensions and religious prosecutions
  • Opposition arrests, trials, and civil liberties
  • Border demarcation, enclaves

Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025

Benyamin  Poghosyan - Ukraine War update, Pashinyan’s Persecution of Church and Opposition intensifies | Ep 483, Nov 2, 2025 [EP483]

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, USA, Armenian Church, Artsakh Blockade, China, Economy, Genocide, India, Iran, Middle East, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine war status and U.S.–Russia dynamics
  • Church–state tensions and religious prosecutions
  • Opposition arrests, trials, and civil liberties
  • Border demarcation, enclaves

Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025

Arthur Khachatryan – Republic Day, EU Drama, and Constitutional Chaos | Ep 441, May 25, 2025 [EP441]

Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Iran, Human Rights, Economy | Series: wir, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

Arthur Khachatryan – Republic Day, EU Drama, and Constitutional Chaos | Ep 441, May 25, 2025 [EP441]

Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Iran, Human Rights, Economy

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

Էդգար Ղազարյան – Խոսքի ազատության գործը և մամուլի վիճակը Հայաստանում | Ep 440, May 28, 2025 [EP440]

Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, In Armenian, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Human Rights, India, European Union | Series: cog, video

INTERVIEW IN ARMENIAN / ՀԱՐՑԱԶՐՈՒՅՑ ՀԱՅԵՐԵՆ

Guest:

Topics:

  • Criminal charges used to silence Edgar Ghazaryan / Քրեական մեղադրանքներ՝ Էդգար Ղազարյանին լռեցնելու համար
  • Media freedom in Armenia under Pashinyan’s rule / Մամուլի ազատությունը Հայաստանում Փաշինյանի կառավարման օրոք
  • Public broadcasting under political control / Հանրային հեռարձակումը քաղաքական վերահսկողության տակ
  • State-aligned actors spreading misinformation / Ապատեղեկատվություն տարածող պետական կողմի դերակատարները

Episode 440 | Recorded: March 9, 2025

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Էդգար Ղազարյան – Խոսքի ազատության գործը և մամուլի վիճակը Հայաստանում | Ep 440, May 28, 2025 [EP440]

Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, In Armenian, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Human Rights, India, European Union

INTERVIEW IN ARMENIAN / ՀԱՐՑԱԶՐՈՒՅՑ ՀԱՅԵՐԵՆ

Guest:

Topics:

  • Criminal charges used to silence Edgar Ghazaryan / Քրեական մեղադրանքներ՝ Էդգար Ղազարյանին լռեցնելու համար
  • Media freedom in Armenia under Pashinyan’s rule / Մամուլի ազատությունը Հայաստանում Փաշինյանի կառավարման օրոք
  • Public broadcasting under political control / Հանրային հեռարձակումը քաղաքական վերահսկողության տակ
  • State-aligned actors spreading misinformation / Ապատեղեկատվություն տարածող պետական կողմի դերակատարները

Episode 440 | Recorded: March 9, 2025

 Read More

Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh: Gev Iskajyan Reflects on Survival and Tragedy | Ep 397 - Dec 18, 2024 [EP397]

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, Genocide, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria | Series: cog, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
  • Ethnic Cleansing
  • Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh: Gev Iskajyan Reflects on Survival and Tragedy | Ep 397 - Dec 18, 2024 [EP397]

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, Genocide, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria

Guest:

Topics:

  • Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
  • Ethnic Cleansing
  • Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Arthur Khachikyan - Russian-Armenian Experts Dialog | Exit from CSTO? | Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations | Edmon Marukyan Resigns | Ep 312 - Mar 3, 2024 [EP312]

Posted on Sunday, Mar 3, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Genocide, Iran, Israel | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Remembering Sumgait Pogroms
  • Russian-Armenian Experts Dialog
  • Exit from CSTO?
  • Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
  • Edmon Marukyan Resigns

Episode 312 | Recorded: Mar 3, 2024

Arthur Khachikyan - Russian-Armenian Experts Dialog | Exit from CSTO? | Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations | Edmon Marukyan Resigns | Ep 312 - Mar 3, 2024 [EP312]

Posted on Sunday, Mar 3, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Genocide, Iran, Israel

Guest:

Topics:

  • Remembering Sumgait Pogroms
  • Russian-Armenian Experts Dialog
  • Exit from CSTO?
  • Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
  • Edmon Marukyan Resigns

Episode 312 | Recorded: Mar 3, 2024

2022 Census | Astana | Iran | Cyber Attack | Remembering TsOR Unit | Ep 169 - Oct 16, 2022 [EP169]

Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Human Rights, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, India | Series: wir

Guests:

Topics:

  • Census in progress in Armenia
  • Meetings in Astana
  • Developments in Iran
  • Armenian websites compromised
  • Remembering the TsOR artillery unit

Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022

2022 Census | Astana | Iran | Cyber Attack | Remembering TsOR Unit | Ep 169 - Oct 16, 2022 [EP169]

Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Human Rights, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, India

Guests:

Topics:

  • Census in progress in Armenia
  • Meetings in Astana
  • Developments in Iran
  • Armenian websites compromised
  • Remembering the TsOR artillery unit

Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022