Armen Ashotyan

Last updated: May 29, 2026

👤 Armen Ashotyan has appeared on the Groong podcast — see their guest profile and interviews →

Armen Ashotyan is a politician and the vice-chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), the party associated with former President Serzh Sargsyan that governed Armenia until the 2018 Velvet Revolution. A former Minister of Education and Science and longtime HHK figure, Ashotyan was arrested in July 2023 on charges of money laundering and corruption — charges that the Republican Party and international observers have characterized as politically motivated persecution of an opposition figure.

His case became emblematic of the broader pattern of selective prosecution of opposition politicians under the Pashinyan government. The arrest drew criticism from the Council of Europe and human rights organizations, who raised concerns about the fairness of the proceedings and the political context in which they occurred. Ashotyan has remained in custody through pretrial detention, making him one of the most prominent political prisoners in Armenia in the pre-2026 election period. See his guest page for his full episode history on Groong.

Groong has covered the Ashotyan case in the context of political prisoners in Armenia, the state of the rule of law under the Pashinyan government, and the prospects for a fair electoral environment ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Armen Ashotyan.

May 28, Rubio’s Armenia Deals, and the Cost of Strategic Drift | Ep 553, May 31, 2026 [EP553]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Georgia | Series: wir, video

Topics:

  • May 28 and Statehood
  • Parade as Campaign Theater
  • Rubio’s Armenia Agreements
  • Minerals Without Guarantees
  • TRIPP Risks in Syunik
  • Russia and Iran Pushback
  • Election Climate and Repression

Episode 553 | Recorded: June 1, 2026

#Armenia #May28 #MarcoRubio #TRIPP #Syunik #CriticalMinerals #ElectionFraud #RussiaArmenia

May 28, Rubio’s Armenia Deals, and the Cost of Strategic Drift | Ep 553, May 31, 2026 [EP553]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Georgia

Topics:

  • May 28 and Statehood
  • Parade as Campaign Theater
  • Rubio’s Armenia Agreements
  • Minerals Without Guarantees
  • TRIPP Risks in Syunik
  • Russia and Iran Pushback
  • Election Climate and Repression

Episode 553 | Recorded: June 1, 2026

#Armenia #May28 #MarcoRubio #TRIPP #Syunik #CriticalMinerals #ElectionFraud #RussiaArmenia

Transcript: May 28, Rubio’s Armenia Deals, and the Cost of Strategic Drift | Ep 553, May 31, 2026 [EP553]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Transcript

In this episode of Groong’s Week in Review, hosts Hovik and Asbed examine Armenia’s May 28 Independence Day parade as campaign theater, Marco Rubio’s push for critical minerals deals, and the strategic risks of TRIPP in Syunik. We discuss how Pashinyan’s military parade coincides with Armenian prisoners of war held hostage in Baku, the questionable financing of weapons through $8 billion in external debt, and the broader geopolitical pressures from Russia and Iran as Armenia heads into the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.

Armen Ashotyan - Pashinyan Vote of No Confidence, Opposition Strategies | Ep 473, Sep 19, 2025 [EP473]

Posted on Friday, Sep 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Economy | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • TRIPP / Trump Route / Zangezur Corridor
  • Vote of No Confidence
  • “Pashinyan or War”?

Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025

Armen Ashotyan - Pashinyan Vote of No Confidence, Opposition Strategies | Ep 473, Sep 19, 2025 [EP473]

Posted on Friday, Sep 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Economy

Guest:

Topics:

  • TRIPP / Trump Route / Zangezur Corridor
  • Vote of No Confidence
  • “Pashinyan or War”?

Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025

Robert Amsterdam - In Our Own Way: The Samvel Karapetyan Case | Ep 468, Sep 4, 2025 [EP468]

Posted on Thursday, Sep 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, NATO | Series: cog, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
  • Pre-trial detention practices
  • Lawfare and double standards
  • Armenia’s global consequences

Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Robert Amsterdam - In Our Own Way: The Samvel Karapetyan Case | Ep 468, Sep 4, 2025 [EP468]

Posted on Thursday, Sep 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
  • Pre-trial detention practices
  • Lawfare and double standards
  • Armenia’s global consequences

Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Armen Ashotyan - Reflections on Life as a Political Prisoner, Attacks on the Church and Sovereignty | Ep 465, Aug 28, 2025 [EP465]

Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Armenian Church, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Russia, India, Middle East, China, European Union, Ukraine, Azerbaijan | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Imprisonment and Political Persecution
  • International and Diaspora Response
  • Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
  • The Managed Capitulation Process

Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025

Armen Ashotyan - Reflections on Life as a Political Prisoner, Attacks on the Church and Sovereignty | Ep 465, Aug 28, 2025 [EP465]

Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Armenian Church, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Russia, India, Middle East, China, European Union, Ukraine, Azerbaijan

Guest:

Topics:

  • Imprisonment and Political Persecution
  • International and Diaspora Response
  • Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
  • The Managed Capitulation Process

Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Trump Ultimatum to Putin, Corridor Pressures, DC Summit, Kitchen Sink | Ep 457, Aug 3, 2025 [EP457]

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, India, China, Armenian Genocide, NATO | Series: wir, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump Ultimatum to Putin
  • US Sanctions effect on Armenia
  • Turkey, US, and Armenia’s Territory
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 457 | Recorded: August 3, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Trump Ultimatum to Putin, Corridor Pressures, DC Summit, Kitchen Sink | Ep 457, Aug 3, 2025 [EP457]

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, India, China, Armenian Genocide, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump Ultimatum to Putin
  • US Sanctions effect on Armenia
  • Turkey, US, and Armenia’s Territory
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 457 | Recorded: August 3, 2025

Hayk Mamijanyan - Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus, Update on political prisoners, PACE report, Referendum on joining EU, Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement | Ep 346, July 19, 2024 [EP346]

Posted on Friday, Jul 19, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Russia, Georgia, Human Rights, Ukraine, China, NATO, Turkey, India | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Update on political prisoners
  • PACE report
  • Referendum on joining EU
  • Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Hayk Mamijanyan - Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus, Update on political prisoners, PACE report, Referendum on joining EU, Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement | Ep 346, July 19, 2024 [EP346]

Posted on Friday, Jul 19, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Russia, Georgia, Human Rights, Ukraine, China, NATO, Turkey, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Update on political prisoners
  • PACE report
  • Referendum on joining EU
  • Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Rafael Ishkhanyan - Report on Police Brutality on June 12, Armenia High Pretrial Detention Rate, Avetik Chalabyan | Ep 343 - July 11, 2024 [EP343]

Posted on Saturday, Jul 13, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Spotlight on Silence, Political Prisoners, Azerbaijan, Human Rights | Series: sos, video

Topics:

  • Report on Police Brutality on June 12 Rally
  • PACE Resolution on Armenia
  • Armenia’s High Pretrial Detention Rate
  • Spotlight on Political Prisoner: Avetik Chalabyan

Guest:

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

Rafael Ishkhanyan - Report on Police Brutality on June 12, Armenia High Pretrial Detention Rate, Avetik Chalabyan | Ep 343 - July 11, 2024 [EP343]

Posted on Saturday, Jul 13, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Spotlight on Silence, Political Prisoners, Azerbaijan, Human Rights

Topics:

  • Report on Police Brutality on June 12 Rally
  • PACE Resolution on Armenia
  • Armenia’s High Pretrial Detention Rate
  • Spotlight on Political Prisoner: Avetik Chalabyan

Guest:

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Police Brutality, Violence, and Repressions, Armenia Azerbaijan Talks, Armenia Russia Relations | Ep 337 - June 16, 2024 [EP337]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, China, Economy, Geopolitics, European Union, Genocide, Human Rights, India | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Police Brutality, Violence & Repressions
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenia Russia Relations

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Police Brutality, Violence, and Repressions, Armenia Azerbaijan Talks, Armenia Russia Relations | Ep 337 - June 16, 2024 [EP337]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, China, Economy, Geopolitics, European Union, Genocide, Human Rights, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Police Brutality, Violence & Repressions
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenia Russia Relations

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Genocide Denial by the Armenian Government | Armenia Azerbaijan Talks | Iran Amidst Conflicts | Political Prisoners | Ep 324 - Apr 14, 2024 [EP324]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Middle East, Georgia, Ukraine, European Union, Human Rights, Geopolitics, NATO | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Benyamin Poghosyan - Genocide Denial by the Armenian Government | Armenia Azerbaijan Talks | Iran Amidst Conflicts | Political Prisoners | Ep 324 - Apr 14, 2024 [EP324]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Middle East, Georgia, Ukraine, European Union, Human Rights, Geopolitics, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Karen Vrtanesyan - Illusion of Normalcy | Political Prisoners & Judicial Harassment | Negotiations | Military Capacity | What Next | Ep 302 - January 14, 2024 [EP302]

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Human Rights, Iran, NATO, India | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • “Forced Illusion of Normalcy”
  • Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
  • Negotiations and “Peace Treaty”
  • Armenia’s Military Capacity
  • What Need to be Done?
  • Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024

Karen Vrtanesyan - Illusion of Normalcy | Political Prisoners & Judicial Harassment | Negotiations | Military Capacity | What Next | Ep 302 - January 14, 2024 [EP302]

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Human Rights, Iran, NATO, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • “Forced Illusion of Normalcy”
  • Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
  • Negotiations and “Peace Treaty”
  • Armenia’s Military Capacity
  • What Need to be Done?
  • Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024

Aghasi Yenokian - Ruling Party Power Grabs | Early Elections | Judiciary Concerns | Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց | Ep 298, Dec. 14, 2023 [EP298]

Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, NATO | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ruling Party Power Grabs
    • Why is Civil Contract so Adamant on Total Municipal Control
    • Political Prisoners
  • Early/Snap Elections?
  • Armenia’s Controlled Judiciary
  • About Yenokian’s new book: Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց

Episode 298 | Recorded: December 13, 2023

Aghasi Yenokian - Ruling Party Power Grabs | Early Elections | Judiciary Concerns | Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց | Ep 298, Dec. 14, 2023 [EP298]

Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, NATO

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ruling Party Power Grabs
    • Why is Civil Contract so Adamant on Total Municipal Control
    • Political Prisoners
  • Early/Snap Elections?
  • Armenia’s Controlled Judiciary
  • About Yenokian’s new book: Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց

Episode 298 | Recorded: December 13, 2023

Armen Ashotyan - Opposition Talks | Ep 44, Jan 19, 2021 [EP44]

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, European Union, Genocide, Geopolitics, Turkey | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • What took place in 2018?
  • Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
  • Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
  • Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
  • Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Armen Ashotyan - Opposition Talks | Ep 44, Jan 19, 2021 [EP44]

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, European Union, Genocide, Geopolitics, Turkey

Guest:

Topics:

  • What took place in 2018?
  • Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
  • Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
  • Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
  • Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021