Armenian Armed Forces

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Dr. Ehsan Movahedian

Topics:

• Iran Parliamentary Elections
• Geopolitical U-turn in Armenia?
• Iran Armenia Relations
• Anti-Iranian Propaganda from NGOs

Episode 314 | Recorded: March 11, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

• Armenia Stalled
  • Stalled with Enemies
  • Stalled with Allies
• Economic Diversification
• Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 313 | Recorded: Mar 11, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

• Armenia Stalled
  • Stalled with Enemies
  • Stalled with Allies
• Economic Diversification
• Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 313 | Recorded: Mar 11, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• French Connection
• Russian-Armenian Dialog
• Negotiations and Risk of War

Episode 311 | Recorded: February 27, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• French Connection
• Russian-Armenian Dialog
• Negotiations and Risk of War

Episode 311 | Recorded: February 27, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
• Is Armenia Rearming itself?
• Pashinyan and the Constitution

Episode 305 | Recorded: January 29, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
• Is Armenia Rearming itself?
• Pashinyan and the Constitution

Episode 305 | Recorded: January 29, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• World in Conflict
  • Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Middle East
• Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
• Prognosis for 2024
• Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 304 | Recorded: January 22, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• World in Conflict
  • Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Middle East
• Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
• Prognosis for 2024
• Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 304 | Recorded: January 22, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

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

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

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

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• “No Peace” Treaty Negotiations
  • Turkish-Azeri goal: Demilitarized Armenia (aka Batumi Treaty 2.0)
  • Humiliating Swap of Azeri Criminals for Armenian Hostages
• Aliyev Calls for Snap Elections
• Russia-Armenian Relations
• Russia-Ukraine War

Episode 297 | Recorded: December 10, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• “No Peace” Treaty Negotiations
  • Turkish-Azeri goal: Demilitarized Armenia (aka Batumi Treaty 2.0)
  • Humiliating Swap of Azeri Criminals for Armenian Hostages
• Aliyev Calls for Snap Elections
• Russia-Armenian Relations
• Russia-Ukraine War

Episode 297 | Recorded: December 10, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Aram Orbelyan

Topics:

• What is the 1991 Alma Ata Declaration?
• What is the CIS Based on?
• About Borders, Treaties, and Declarations
• Armenia’s explicit reservation affecting Artsakh in the Treaty
• Why would Pashinyan ignore the Reservations?
• Territorial Integrity and Use of Force
• What Autonomy was LTP Envisioning?
• Where does 2023 Leave the Cause of Artsakh?
• How should Armenia Pursue it on the International Scene?

Episode 293 | Recorded: November 13, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Aram Orbelyan

Topics:

• What is the 1991 Alma Ata Declaration?
• What is the CIS Based on?
• About Borders, Treaties, and Declarations
• Armenia’s explicit reservation affecting Artsakh in the Treaty
• Why would Pashinyan ignore the Reservations?
• Territorial Integrity and Use of Force
• What Autonomy was LTP Envisioning?
• Where does 2023 Leave the Cause of Artsakh?
• How should Armenia Pursue it on the International Scene?

Episode 293 | Recorded: November 13, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Crossroads of Peace
• 3+3=5 in Tehran
• Relations with Russia
• Defense Deal with France
• Artsakh Status

Episode 291 | Recorded: October 31, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Crossroads of Peace
• 3+3=5 in Tehran
• Relations with Russia
• Defense Deal with France
• Artsakh Status

Episode 291 | Recorded: October 31, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Developments in Artsakh
• Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

Episode 278 | Recorded: September 10, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Developments in Artsakh
• Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

Episode 278 | Recorded: September 10, 2023

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
• Situation in Artsakh

Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
• Situation in Artsakh

Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023

Guest:

• Anna Abrahamian

Topics:

• The Wagner Group
• Special Ops in Russia
• Over at The Ministry of Defense
• A White Russian
• On The Western Front
• Are We Done Yet?
• Parallels with 2016 in Armenia?
• PMCs in Armenia?

Episode 265 | Recorded: June 30, 2023

Guest:

• Anna Abrahamian

Topics:

• The Wagner Group
• Special Ops in Russia
• Over at The Ministry of Defense
• A White Russian
• On The Western Front
• Are We Done Yet?
• Parallels with 2016 in Armenia?
• PMCs in Armenia?

Episode 265 | Recorded: June 30, 2023

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Erdogan Reshuffles Cabinet, First Visit to Baku
• Latest Developments in Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations, Baku Postpones
• Economic Developments, More Subsidies to IT Sector
• MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating is Falling

Episode 252 | Recorded: June 12, 2023

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Erdogan Reshuffles Cabinet, First Visit to Baku
• Latest Developments in Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations, Baku Postpones
• Economic Developments, More Subsidies to IT Sector
• MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating is Falling

Episode 252 | Recorded: June 12, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur Khachikyan

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
• Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
• Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia

Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur Khachikyan

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
• Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
• Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia

Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

• Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
• Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
  • Artsakh Strangled
  • International Community
  • Pashinyan’s Parliament Speech
  • Madrid Principles
  • Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
  • What Can Diaspora Do?
• Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
• Rants

Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

• Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
• Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
  • Artsakh Strangled
  • International Community
  • Pashinyan’s Parliament Speech
  • Madrid Principles
  • Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
  • What Can Diaspora Do?
• Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
• Rants

Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023

Guest:

• Anna Kostanyan

Topics:

• Intro to Anna Kostanyan and Hamakhmbum (Consolidation) Movement
• New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan
• Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia
• Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections

Episode 248 | Recorded: April 16, 2023

Guest:

• Anna Kostanyan

Topics:

• Intro to Anna Kostanyan and Hamakhmbum (Consolidation) Movement
• New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan
• Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia
• Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections

Episode 248 | Recorded: April 16, 2023

Guest:

• Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Topics:

• Aghavno / Berdzor
• April 11 Azeri Aggression Near Tegh
• Raising Flags
• Azeri Infiltrations into Armenia

Episode 247 | Recorded: April 14, 2023

Guest:

• Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Topics:

• Aghavno / Berdzor
• April 11 Azeri Aggression Near Tegh
• Raising Flags
• Azeri Infiltrations into Armenia

Episode 247 | Recorded: April 14, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• What agreements were reached between China and Russia?
• What is the role of India in the new world order?
• Consequence of moving away from a dollar-denominated global economic order?
• China as peacemaker in Ukraine
• China as peacemaker in the Middle East
• China’s role in Iran and South Caucasus
• How should Armenia navigate world order changes?

Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• What agreements were reached between China and Russia?
• What is the role of India in the new world order?
• Consequence of moving away from a dollar-denominated global economic order?
• China as peacemaker in Ukraine
• China as peacemaker in the Middle East
• China’s role in Iran and South Caucasus
• How should Armenia navigate world order changes?

Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
• East and West
• Armenia and the Rome Statute

Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
• East and West
• Armenia and the Rome Statute

Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Pashinyan’s Press Conference
• Negotiating with Belligerent Azerbaijan
• Mirzoyan in Moscow
• Mayoral Politics in Yerevan

Episode 240 | Recorded: March 20, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Pashinyan’s Press Conference
• Negotiating with Belligerent Azerbaijan
• Mirzoyan in Moscow
• Mayoral Politics in Yerevan

Episode 240 | Recorded: March 20, 2023

Today we’re going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.

• The Munich Security Conference 2023.
• We’ll touch on Russian president Putin’s state of the federation address.
• The latest political developments in Artsakh.

Guest:

• Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her

Today we’re going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.

• The Munich Security Conference 2023.
• We’ll touch on Russian president Putin’s state of the federation address.
• The latest political developments in Artsakh.

Guest:

• Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her

Guest:

• Arthur G Martirosyan

Topics:

• Army Day - January 28
  • Events at Yerablur
• New EU Monitoring Mission
  • Armenia’s Diplomacy
  • Russia’s Increasing Displeasure
  • Iran’s Tempered Displeasure
• Artsakh Blockade

Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur G Martirosyan

Topics:

• Army Day - January 28
  • Events at Yerablur
• New EU Monitoring Mission
  • Armenia’s Diplomacy
  • Russia’s Increasing Displeasure
  • Iran’s Tempered Displeasure
• Artsakh Blockade

Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Catastrophic Accident in Military Barrack
• New EU Civilian Mission to Armenia
• Armenia-Russia Relations
• Ruben Vardanyan on BBC HARDtalk

Episode 217 | Recorded: January 24, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Catastrophic Accident in Military Barrack
• New EU Civilian Mission to Armenia
• Armenia-Russia Relations
• Ruben Vardanyan on BBC HARDtalk

Episode 217 | Recorded: January 24, 2023

Conversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023

On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

Topics:

• Conditions in the Armenian Army
• Information chaos following the incident
• Beheading of the 2nd Army Corps

Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023

Conversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023

On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

Topics:

• Conditions in the Armenian Army
• Information chaos following the incident
• Beheading of the 2nd Army Corps

Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023

Guests:

• William Bairamian , founder and editor of The Armenite. He has written extensively on Armenian politics, culture, and society. He received degrees in international affairs from Columbia University and UCLA.
• Arthur Khachikyan , International Relations expert from Stanford University, specializing in Intervention. He currently teaches at the Russian Armenian University in Yerevan.

“This is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.” -Arthur Khachikyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)

Guests:

• William Bairamian , founder and editor of The Armenite. He has written extensively on Armenian politics, culture, and society. He received degrees in international affairs from Columbia University and UCLA.
• Arthur Khachikyan , International Relations expert from Stanford University, specializing in Intervention. He currently teaches at the Russian Armenian University in Yerevan.

“This is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.” -Arthur Khachikyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)

Guest:

• Hovhannes Ishkhanyan , writer, documentary filmmaker, publicist, co-founder of Eye for an Eye (Akn Und Akan), a community of documentarians. Hovhannes has a Master’s in journalism from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.

Using art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them

Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th

Guest:

• Hovhannes Ishkhanyan , writer, documentary filmmaker, publicist, co-founder of Eye for an Eye (Akn Und Akan), a community of documentarians. Hovhannes has a Master’s in journalism from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.

Using art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them

Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan , expert on military and warfare strategies with a focus on Armenia and its neighboring region. Co-founder of the website razm.info.

“This is not a humanitarian crisis. This is a political crisis, a crisis of statehood. -Karen Vrtanesyan”

Topic:

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.

Links:

• 168 Hours: https://168.am
• Groong: https://podcasts.groong.org

Episode 196 | Recorded: December 30, 2022

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan , expert on military and warfare strategies with a focus on Armenia and its neighboring region. Co-founder of the website razm.info.

“This is not a humanitarian crisis. This is a political crisis, a crisis of statehood. -Karen Vrtanesyan”

Topic:

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.

Links:

• 168 Hours: https://168.am
• Groong: https://podcasts.groong.org

Episode 196 | Recorded: December 30, 2022

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan , Chairman of the Yerevan based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.

“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 16th day.

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan , Chairman of the Yerevan based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.

“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 16th day.

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this

Guest:

• Edgar Elbakyan , a political scientist and social thinker based in Yerevan, Armenia. He is a co-founder of the Armenian Project non-profit organization, which contributes to enhancing Armenian national civil society.

“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”

Topic:

The blockade of Artsakh is now 13 days old. More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh). Supermarket shelves are empty. Essential medicine is running out.

On Friday, December 23, that’s yesterday, a meeting between

Guest:

• Edgar Elbakyan , a political scientist and social thinker based in Yerevan, Armenia. He is a co-founder of the Armenian Project non-profit organization, which contributes to enhancing Armenian national civil society.

“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”

Topic:

The blockade of Artsakh is now 13 days old. More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh). Supermarket shelves are empty. Essential medicine is running out.

On Friday, December 23, that’s yesterday, a meeting between

“Pashinyan, why don’t you go and shake Artak Beglaryan’s hand, like you did in Shushi in 2019” - Tevan Poghosyan

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan , is president of the International Center for Human Development in Yerevan. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP in the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. From 1997 to 1999 he served as the Nagorno-Karabakh Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.

Topic:

This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more

“Pashinyan, why don’t you go and shake Artak Beglaryan’s hand, like you did in Shushi in 2019” - Tevan Poghosyan

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan , is president of the International Center for Human Development in Yerevan. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP in the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. From 1997 to 1999 he served as the Nagorno-Karabakh Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.

Topic:

This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more

“This is the policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the people of Artsakh” -Arman Tatoyan

Guest:

• Arman Tatoyan , is the former ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia. Currently actively pursues human rights for Armenians in the republics of Armenia and Artsakh, especially through his foundation, the “Tatoyan” Center for Law and Justice.

Topic:

This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.

As we are recording this discussion, more than 120 thousand people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh). For 9 days, Azerbaijan has brazenly blocked