Last updated: June 10, 2026
Armenia is a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus region of Western Asia, bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. With a population of approximately 3 million, Armenia is one of the world’s oldest Christian civilizations, having adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301 CE—the first country to do so. The capital and largest city is Yerevan, located in the central part of the country. Armenia’s geography is characterized by the Armenian Highlands, a mountainous region with an average elevation exceeding 1,600 meters. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including ancient churches, monasteries, and archaeological sites. Armenia is a member of numerous international organizations including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union.
In the context of Groong’s coverage, Armenia is a landlocked South Caucasus republic facing an acute strategic and political crisis. Since the 2020 44-Day War , the country has lost control of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and hundreds of square kilometers of territory to Azerbaijan, undergone the complete ethnic cleansing of more than 150,000 Armenian inhabitants from Artsakh, and seen its borders redrawn under duress. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party have governed through this catastrophe while pursuing what opponents describe as a capitulation strategy: signing ceasefire agreements, negotiating territorial concessions, and attempting to normalize relations with Turkey despite no reciprocal gesture. The government frames this course as realism and peace-building; critics argue it surrenders Armenian sovereignty without securing the rights or security of displaced Artsakhtsis. Armenia’s relationship with its traditional security guarantor Russia has deteriorated sharply, while its pivot toward the European Union and United States remains hesitant and incomplete, leaving the country in a precarious middle position between Moscow and the West.
Domestic politics in Armenia since 2021 have been dominated by the opposition’s demand for Pashinyan’s resignation and accountability for the war’s loss. The Established Opposition parties—Strong Armenia , Armenia Alliance (Hayastan Dashinq) , Prosperous Armenia , and the Republican Party of Armenia —have held street protests, mounted electoral challenges, and attempted to build coalitions for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections. Civil Contract’s supermajority in parliament has allowed it to pass constitutional amendments, strip opposition figures of immunity, and advance its agenda despite sustained criticism over corruption, misuse of administrative resources, and alleged election irregularities. The government has also escalated confrontation with the Armenian Church , arresting clergy, seizing church property, and pressuring the Catholicos , actions that have alarmed international observers and divided public opinion. Simultaneously, Pashinyan has consolidated control over state institutions, including the judiciary and security services, raising concerns about democratic backsliding and rule of law.
Armenia’s economy remains fragile. Growth statistics mask structural weaknesses: the country is heavily dependent on remittances and Russian trade, faces declining foreign investment, carries rising national debt, and has seen its ties to Iran—a key trade and energy partner—complicated by U.S. pressure over TRIPP, the so-called Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity . The project aims to open transport corridors through Armenian territory in Syunik province, a move that would connect Azerbaijan to Turkey via Armenian land and raise questions about Armenian sovereignty over the route and control of its security. Russia has shifted from enthusiastic support of the corridor to public ambivalence, while Iran has issued explicit warnings that it will not accept any arrangement that bypasses or threatens its interests. The competing pressures from Washington, Moscow, Tehran, and Baku leave Armenia’s leadership navigating impossible choices between security guarantees that do not yet exist and economic partnerships that require territorial and strategic concessions it is reluctant to make permanent. The 2026 election will determine whether Armenian voters remain committed to Pashinyan’s course or whether opposition forces can forge a unified alternative around themes of security, sovereignty, and the rights of displaced Artsakhtsis to return home.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Armenia.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 31, 2021
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Episode 96 | Recorded: October 31, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211031.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 31, 2021
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Episode 96 | Recorded: October 31, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211031.html
Armenia’s Borders in Maps - A Conversation with Rouben Galichian | Ep 95 - Oct 29, 2021
Episode 95 | Recorded: October 29, 2021
Armenia’s Borders in Maps - A Conversation with Rouben Galichian | Ep 95 - Oct 29, 2021
Episode 95 | Recorded: October 29, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
Armeniaâs Diplomacy and Corridor Politics
Episode 93 | Recorded: October 18, 2021
Armeniaâs Diplomacy and Corridor Politics
Episode 93 | Recorded: October 18, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 17, 2021
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Episode 92 | Recorded: October 18, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211017.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 17, 2021
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Episode 92 | Recorded: October 18, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211017.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 3, 2021
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Episode 91 | Recorded: October 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211003.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 3, 2021
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Episode 91 | Recorded: October 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211003.html
Episode 90 | Recorded: September 27, 2021
Episode 90 | Recorded: September 27, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 19, 2021
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Episode #89 | Recorded: September 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210919.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 19, 2021
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Episode #89 | Recorded: September 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210919.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
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Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
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Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2021
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Episode 87 | Recorded: August 29, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210829.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2021
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Episode 87 | Recorded: August 29, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210829.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021
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Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021
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Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 15, 2021
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Asbed Kotchikian is an Associate Professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia.
Benyamin Poghosyan is the chairman of the Center For Political and Economic Strategic Studies, a Yerevan based think tank. He was
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - August 15, 2021
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Asbed Kotchikian is an Associate Professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia.
Benyamin Poghosyan is the chairman of the Center For Political and Economic Strategic Studies, a Yerevan based think tank. He was
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021
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Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021
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Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html
Calls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War
A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan
The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.
A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for
Read MoreCalls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War
A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan
The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.
A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021
Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021
Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021
Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian
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Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html
Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian
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Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021
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Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021
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Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
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Guests: Asbed Kotchikian
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
Preserving Armenian Heritage
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Read MorePreserving Armenian Heritage
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Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html
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Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html
How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy With Election Results? A Conversation (in Armenian) with Aram Navasardyan
Guest: Aram Navasardyan is Director of MPG, a member of Gallup International Association and one of the main pollsters in the pre-election campaign for June 2021 parliamentary elections.
– Ինչպե՞ս բացատրել MPG- ի հարցումների անհամապատասխանությունը ընտրությունների արդյունքների հետ Զրույց Արամ Նավասարդյանի հետ
Հյուր: Արամ Նավասարդյանը MPG- ի տնօրենն է որը հանդիսանում է Gallup International Association- ի անդամ և հիմնական հետազոտական կազմակերպություններից մեկն եր 2021
Read MoreHow to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy With Election Results? A Conversation (in Armenian) with Aram Navasardyan
Guest: Aram Navasardyan is Director of MPG, a member of Gallup International Association and one of the main pollsters in the pre-election campaign for June 2021 parliamentary elections.
– Ինչպե՞ս բացատրել MPG- ի հարցումների անհամապատասխանությունը ընտրությունների արդյունքների հետ Զրույց Արամ Նավասարդյանի հետ
Հյուր: Արամ Նավասարդյանը MPG- ի տնօրենն է որը հանդիսանում է Gallup International Association- ի անդամ և հիմնական հետազոտական կազմակերպություններից մեկն եր 2021
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html
Analyzing Party Platforms in June 20 Parliamentary Elections
A Conversation with Robert Markarian
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Robert Markarian was born in Iran and has university education in physics and law. For 25 years, he has worked as a host, editor, and analyst on Armenian Radio Hour in Iranâs public radio and television. He has cooperated articles covering Armenia and Artsakh in Armenian, Persian, and English published by Iranian and Armenian sites and analytical centers.
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Conversation in English and Armenian
Analyzing Party Platforms in June 20 Parliamentary Elections
A Conversation with Robert Markarian
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Robert Markarian was born in Iran and has university education in physics and law. For 25 years, he has worked as a host, editor, and analyst on Armenian Radio Hour in Iranâs public radio and television. He has cooperated articles covering Armenia and Artsakh in Armenian, Persian, and English published by Iranian and Armenian sites and analytical centers.
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Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections
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Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin
Read MoreAleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections
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Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin
Read MoreHayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance), Elections and Postwar Outlook
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Aspram Krpeyan, is a member of the Hayastan Dashinq led by former president Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming elections in Armenia, and a member of its list of parliamentary party representatives. She holds an MSt in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford and an LLM from the Geneva Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research interests lie in international law with a focus on the interplay between international humanitarian law and human rights, use of force, including the conduct
Read MoreHayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance), Elections and Postwar Outlook
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Aspram Krpeyan, is a member of the Hayastan Dashinq led by former president Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming elections in Armenia, and a member of its list of parliamentary party representatives. She holds an MSt in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford and an LLM from the Geneva Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research interests lie in international law with a focus on the interplay between international humanitarian law and human rights, use of force, including the conduct
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
Episode 83 | Recorded: June 14, 2021
Episode 83 | Recorded: June 14, 2021
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges
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ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges
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Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War
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Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html
Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War
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Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html
Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read MoreIran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read More