Last updated: May 29, 2026
The Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process has been one of the most consequential and contested diplomatic threads of the post-Soviet South Caucasus. After the 44-Day War of 2020 ended with Armenia’s military defeat and the Russian-brokered November 9 ceasefire, negotiations over a final peace treaty began in earnest — mediated at different times by Russia, the European Union, and the United States. The agenda covers border delimitation, the opening of transportation routes, the fate of Armenian prisoners of war, and the legal status of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor”.
Progress has been fitful. Talks collapsed repeatedly over competing interpretations of key provisions, and Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive that carried out the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) reshaped the political ground beneath both sides. Groong has covered every major round of negotiations — in Prague, Chisinau, Brussels, Washington, and Granada — as well as the periods of stalled talks and renewed tension that have punctuated the process.
The core dispute over a final peace agreement remains unresolved. Armenian officials speak of a peace treaty that anchors the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; Azerbaijani officials demand constitutional amendments and a formal renunciation of any claims. Groong episodes in this category address the evolving framework for peace, the role of external mediators, domestic political reactions on both sides, and what a durable settlement would require.
Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition
Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition
This Week in Review examines the tightening political climate in Armenia ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Asbed and Hovik discuss Marco Rubio’s sudden Armenia visit, new polling from IRI, MPG, and CAEAC, and what the wide gaps in voter disclosure may reveal about hidden opposition support. The episode also covers TRIPP, “Western Azerbaijan” rhetoric, public trust in the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the growing use of arrests, threats, and state pressure against opposition figures. The discussion centers on Pashinyan’s escalating campaign rhetoric, including his “Why are you alive?” outburst, and what it signals about the stakes of the coming election.
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.
Episode 547 | Recorded: May 18, 2026
#Pashinyan #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianPolitics #PoliticalViolence #HateSpeech #ArmeniaRussia #IranWar #SouthCaucasus
Episode 547 | Recorded: May 18, 2026
#Pashinyan #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianPolitics #PoliticalViolence #HateSpeech #ArmeniaRussia #IranWar #SouthCaucasus
This Week in Review covers a tense mix of global and Armenian political crises, from Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping and the deepening Iran war, to Armenia’s worsening relations with Russia and the risks to trade, energy, and security ties. Hovik and Asbed also examine Armenia’s heated election climate, including allegations of state pressure, abuse of administrative resources, selective law enforcement, Pashinyan’s violent campaign rhetoric against opposition leaders, and the muted response of international observers. The episode also looks at Robert Kocharyan’s call for major-power guarantees for peace with Azerbaijan, and the vandalism of the Sourp Nshan Armenian Church in Javakhk.
Episode 546 | Recorded: May 13, 2026
#ArmanGrigoryan #Armenia #Russia #Pashinyan #Artsakh #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics
Episode 546 | Recorded: May 13, 2026
#ArmanGrigoryan #Armenia #Russia #Pashinyan #Artsakh #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics