Armenian News

Guest(s):

• David Davidian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021

Topics:

• Snap On - June 20th!
• Gas Through Azerbaijan
• Military Exercises by Armenia and Azerbaijan

Guests

• David Davidian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• David Davidian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021

Topics:

• Snap On - June 20th!
• Gas Through Azerbaijan
• Military Exercises by Armenia and Azerbaijan

Guests

• David Davidian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021

Topics:

• Newly Released IRI Poll Results
• Armen Grigoryan’s Interview
• Snap On, Snap Off!

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021

Topics:

• Newly Released IRI Poll Results
• Armen Grigoryan’s Interview
• Snap On, Snap Off!

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• David Davidian
• George Tabakian

ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Wait, Did Armenia Use the Iskander to Blow Up its Relations With Russia?
• Wait, Was There a Coup?
• The Opposition Picks up Steam
• Wait, was The 737 Hijacked?

Guests:

• David Davidian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021

Guest(s):

• David Davidian
• George Tabakian

ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Wait, Did Armenia Use the Iskander to Blow Up its Relations With Russia?
• Wait, Was There a Coup?
• The Opposition Picks up Steam
• Wait, was The 737 Hijacked?

Guests:

• David Davidian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

• President Sargsyan’s Interview
• Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
• Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
• Opposition Protests on Feb 20
• Govsagan, in the end

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
• Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

• President Sargsyan’s Interview
• Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
• Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
• Opposition Protests on Feb 20
• Govsagan, in the end

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
• Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• Armen Der Giureghian

Armenia’s Earthquake Preparedness - 02/21/2021

Topics:

• Was it an Earthquake?
• Have Construction Codes Improved since 1988?
• Do Contractors Comply with Regulations?
• Is Armenia Ready for The Big One?
• Is there Earthquake Preparedness in Armenia?
• What Conversations are not Happening?

Guest:

• Dr. Armen Der Giureghian is a structural and civil engineering professor at UC Berkeley with research focus on earthquake engineering. He is a co-founder and was president of the American University of Armenia from 2014 until 2019.

Host:

• Asbed Bedrossian

Website:

Guest(s):

• Armen Der Giureghian

Armenia’s Earthquake Preparedness - 02/21/2021

Topics:

• Was it an Earthquake?
• Have Construction Codes Improved since 1988?
• Do Contractors Comply with Regulations?
• Is Armenia Ready for The Big One?
• Is there Earthquake Preparedness in Armenia?
• What Conversations are not Happening?

Guest:

• Dr. Armen Der Giureghian is a structural and civil engineering professor at UC Berkeley with research focus on earthquake engineering. He is a co-founder and was president of the American University of Armenia from 2014 until 2019.

Host:

• Asbed Bedrossian

Website:

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
• Amending the Law on Mass Media
• Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
• Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
• Amending the Law on Mass Media
• Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
• Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Guest(s):

• Ruben Muradyan

Armenian IT Security and Readiness During Wartime - with Ruben Muradyan - Jan. 31, 2021

Experience being called up and participating in the war

Ethics of a security professional. What to do when a government member asks you to conduct greyhat (potentially unlawful or unethical) security?

On the 2nd day of the war Ruben was called up to the army as part of an infantry company.

• Can you describe your experience?
• How were you drafted? And where did you serve?
• What specialty did you have in the army?
• What can you tell us about what you saw?
• Why did we lose the war?

Guest(s):

• Ruben Muradyan

Armenian IT Security and Readiness During Wartime - with Ruben Muradyan - Jan. 31, 2021

Experience being called up and participating in the war

Ethics of a security professional. What to do when a government member asks you to conduct greyhat (potentially unlawful or unethical) security?

On the 2nd day of the war Ruben was called up to the army as part of an infantry company.

• Can you describe your experience?
• How were you drafted? And where did you serve?
• What specialty did you have in the army?
• What can you tell us about what you saw?
• Why did we lose the war?

Guest(s):

• Aram Suren Hamparian
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 24, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Supreme Judicial Council Appointments
• Turkish-Azerbaijan Military Exercises in Kars Region
• Incoming US Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Armenia

Guests

• Aram Hamparian
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210124.html Episode 45 | Recorded on January 24, 2021

Guest(s):

• Aram Suren Hamparian
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 24, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Supreme Judicial Council Appointments
• Turkish-Azerbaijan Military Exercises in Kars Region
• Incoming US Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Armenia

Guests

• Aram Hamparian
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210124.html Episode 45 | Recorded on January 24, 2021

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

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

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Edgar Elbakyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyan’s trip to Moscow
• What is Azerbaijan’s geo-political situation after the war?
• Domestic politics in Baku
• Azerbaijan’s losses from the second war in Artsakh

Guests

• Edgar Elbakyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Edgar Elbakyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyan’s trip to Moscow
• What is Azerbaijan’s geo-political situation after the war?
• Domestic politics in Baku
• Azerbaijan’s losses from the second war in Artsakh

Guests

• Edgar Elbakyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman and prior to that rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO.

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman and prior to that rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO.

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021

Topics Covered:

• The State of the Opposition and their demands
• Update on the Border Positions between Armenia & Azerbaijan
• The State of the Line of Contact around Artsakh

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021

Topics Covered:

• The State of the Opposition and their demands
• Update on the Border Positions between Armenia & Azerbaijan
• The State of the Line of Contact around Artsakh

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Arevik Anapiosyan

Research in Policy Making and Implementation (Ep #38) - 01/03/2021

Asbed Kotchikian is an associate professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia, where he teaches courses on post-Soviet space and the Middle East.

Talks with

Arevik Anapiosyan is the Partnerships and Development Finance Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, and has served as the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. She co-founded and was the Executive Director of the Institute of Public

Guest(s):

• Arevik Anapiosyan

Research in Policy Making and Implementation (Ep #38) - 01/03/2021

Asbed Kotchikian is an associate professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia, where he teaches courses on post-Soviet space and the Middle East.

Talks with

Arevik Anapiosyan is the Partnerships and Development Finance Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, and has served as the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. She co-founded and was the Executive Director of the Institute of Public

Guest(s):

• Tevan Poghosyan

Since the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994 and for over quarter of a century, Armenia has engaged in diplomatic activity with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the West. The aim of those diplomatic initiatives was to find a solution to the conflict by engaging in direct diplomatic negotiations as well as track two diplomacy.

In September 2020, diplomatic initiatives gave way to a military one resulting in a war that reversed Armenia’s military successes and led to the signing of a cease-fire agreement which completely undermined Armenia’s position

Guest(s):

• Tevan Poghosyan

Since the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994 and for over quarter of a century, Armenia has engaged in diplomatic activity with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the West. The aim of those diplomatic initiatives was to find a solution to the conflict by engaging in direct diplomatic negotiations as well as track two diplomacy.

In September 2020, diplomatic initiatives gave way to a military one resulting in a war that reversed Armenia’s military successes and led to the signing of a cease-fire agreement which completely undermined Armenia’s position

Guest(s):

• Edmon Marukyan

Conversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.

We’ll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his party’s vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.

What is Bright Armenia’s vision for post

Guest(s):

• Edmon Marukyan

Conversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.

We’ll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his party’s vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.

What is Bright Armenia’s vision for post

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Irina Safaryan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 35 - Dec 20, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Life in Artsakh
• Update on Hin Tagher & Khtsaberd
• Internal Political Situation in Yerevan
• Kapan Border Tension

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Irina Safaryan
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201220.html Recorded: Dec 20, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Irina Safaryan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 35 - Dec 20, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Life in Artsakh
• Update on Hin Tagher & Khtsaberd
• Internal Political Situation in Yerevan
• Kapan Border Tension

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Irina Safaryan
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201220.html Recorded: Dec 20, 2020

Guest(s):

• Arthur Khachatryan

Conversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (Հայրենիքի փրկության շաժում in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyan’s immediate resignation and the appointment of their

Guest(s):

• Arthur Khachatryan

Conversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan

Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyan’s agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (Հայրենիքի փրկության շաժում in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyan’s immediate resignation and the appointment of their

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Renewed Fighting & the OSCE MG visit
• Expedited Border Demarcation?
• What will happen to Sotq?
• Diplomatic Relations with Azerbaijan?

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Recorded: Dec 13, 2020

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Renewed Fighting & the OSCE MG visit
• Expedited Border Demarcation?
• What will happen to Sotq?
• Diplomatic Relations with Azerbaijan?

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Recorded: Dec 13, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Angela Harutyunyan

The Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020

Conversations on Groong

Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Angela Harutyunyan

The Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020

Conversations on Groong

Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

• Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
• Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
• Does Putin support Pashinyan?
• Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

• Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
• Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
• Does Putin support Pashinyan?
• Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• The Scene in Yerevan
• COVID Update
• Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• The Scene in Yerevan
• COVID Update
• Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Suren Sargsyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Summary of diplomatic activities
• Iranian mediation offers
• Negotiations in Geneva
• Support from ex-presidents
• Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian https://twitter.com/asbedk
• Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Suren Sargsyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Summary of diplomatic activities
• Iranian mediation offers
• Negotiations in Geneva
• Support from ex-presidents
• Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian https://twitter.com/asbedk
• Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020