Azerbaijan
Last updated: June 10, 2026
Azerbaijan is a South Caucasus republic with a population of approximately 10 million and a territory spanning roughly 86,600 square kilometers. The country is governed as a presidential republic under President Ilham Aliyev , who has held power since 2003. Azerbaijan’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports, particularly through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor, which connects Caspian energy reserves to European markets. The capital, Baku, serves as a major regional hub. Azerbaijan is a member of the United Nations, OSCE, and various regional organizations. The country’s Azerbaijani-speaking population is predominantly Muslim. Azerbaijan also includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave separated from mainland Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.
However, international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have extensively documented systematic human rights abuses in Azerbaijan, including arbitrary detention, torture, suppression of political opposition, restrictions on press freedom, and limitations on civil society. Aliyev’s government maintains tight control over dissent, with opposition politicians, journalists, and activists facing harassment, imprisonment, and violence. The country ranks poorly on freedom indices, with Reporters Without Borders, Freedom House, and Transparency International consistently ranking Azerbaijan among the world’s most repressive states regarding democratic freedoms and rule of law. Prison conditions are documented as harsh, and extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances have been reported. The state monopoly on media, combined with internet censorship and restrictions on assembly, creates an environment where independent voices face significant risk. These governance practices have been particularly intensified since Aliyev’s re-election in 2018 and remain central to how the regime maintains internal control while projecting external power.
Azerbaijan is a South Caucasus republic whose military campaigns against Armenia in 2020 and 2023 have reshaped the regional balance of power. Following the 44-Day War in 2020 and the complete capture of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) in a 24-hour offensive on September 19–20, 2023, Azerbaijan controls territory that was previously under Armenian administration, ethnically cleansing the enclave of its more than 150,000 Armenian inhabitants. President Ilham Aliyev has used military victory to extract territorial and geopolitical concessions from Armenia, including commitments toward the so-called “Zangezur Corridor”—what Washington frames as TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), a transit corridor through Armenian Syunik province that would connect Azerbaijan to Turkey via Armenian land. Aliyev has consistently framed these arrangements in pan-Turanic terms, treating them as steps toward regional integration under Turkish-Azerbaijani leadership rather than as neutral infrastructure projects. Azerbaijan’s leverage over Armenia derives not only from military superiority but from Armenia’s isolation: as Russia has grown less reliable as a security guarantor and Armenia has sought Western partnerships that remain incomplete, Baku has incrementally pressed its advantage through border incursions, blockade threats, and demands for “unblocking” that contain implicit security concessions.
Azerbaijan’s relationship with Turkey is central to its strategy and its self-conception as a regional power. The two states share language, historical narratives around pan-Turkism, and military-strategic interests in offsetting Iran and resisting Russian influence. Turkey provided air support during the 2020 war and has supplied weapons and military training throughout Azerbaijan’s buildup. However, the relationship is not symmetrical: Azerbaijan maintains its own foreign policy interests, including energy partnerships with Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor and a degree of hedging toward Russia that reflects Baku’s awareness that it cannot afford permanent enmity with Moscow. In early 2026, tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran spiked following military exercises in Nakhijevan and constitutional changes that centralized control over the exclave, raising questions about whether Baku is positioning itself as a U.S.-backed pressure point against Iran or merely consolidating internal authority. The trajectory of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, discussed in episodes examining the regional dimensions of that conflict, has direct bearing on Azerbaijan’s calculations about its northern neighbor and its room for maneuver between Washington and Moscow.
Armenia’s vulnerability has translated into Azerbaijan’s expanding room for territorial and political demands. Pashinyan has signed successive ceasefire agreements and acknowledged Armenian territorial losses while framing them as necessary trade-offs for regional peace. Yet Azerbaijan has continued to occupy positions inside internationally recognized Armenian territory, has threatened blockades over the movement of humanitarian supplies to Armenia, and has used negotiations over transit corridors as leverage to extract security concessions from Yerevan. Eldar Mamedov’s analysis of the Iran war and Azerbaijan’s role as a potential northern front, alongside Arman Grigoryan’s assessment of what he terms Armenia’s “revolutionary recklessness” in abandoning Russian security ties without securing firm Western alternatives, illustrates the degree to which Azerbaijan’s actions are embedded in a wider geopolitical struggle between Russia, the United States, Europe, Iran, and Turkey. Whether Azerbaijan consolidates its wartime gains into a permanent shift in the regional balance or whether changed circumstances in Iran, Russia, or Western policy create openings for Armenian repositioning remains among the most contested questions shaping the South Caucasus through 2026 and beyond.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Azerbaijan.
Tigranashen Unanswered, Russia’s Railways Challenged | Ep 574, Aug 2, 2026 [EP574]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- New parliament is sworn in
- Tigranashen and Armenia’s territorial red lines
- Civil Contract’s evasive enclave answers
- Armenia challenges Russia’s railway concession
- TRIPP reshapes regional power and transit
Episode 574 | Recorded: August 3, 2026
#ArmenianNews #Tigranashen #ArmenianRailways #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #ArmeniaRussia #ZangezurCorridor #Geopolitics
Tigranashen Unanswered, Russia’s Railways Challenged | Ep 574, Aug 2, 2026 [EP574]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, GeopoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- New parliament is sworn in
- Tigranashen and Armenia’s territorial red lines
- Civil Contract’s evasive enclave answers
- Armenia challenges Russia’s railway concession
- TRIPP reshapes regional power and transit
Episode 574 | Recorded: August 3, 2026
#ArmenianNews #Tigranashen #ArmenianRailways #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #ArmeniaRussia #ZangezurCorridor #Geopolitics
TRIPP, Turkish Railways, and the Real Game [EP574]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Economy, Armenia, Turkey, AzerbaijanHovik explains why Pashinyan’s proposed Gyumri-Kars railway through Nakhijevan is a fiction: Turkey already has a multi-billion-dollar direct line, and Aliyev has made clear no northern Armenian route exists.
Transcript: Tigranashen Unanswered, Russia’s Railways Challenged | Ep 574, Aug 2, 2026 [EP574]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, TranscriptIn this week’s Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discuss Armenia’s new parliament sworn in on August 2, 2026, and the Armenia Alliance’s direct challenge to Civil Contract over Tigranashen. We examine the government’s evasive responses on territorial red lines, Armenia’s challenge to Russia’s railway concession, and how TRIPP reshapes regional power dynamics in the South Caucasus.
Armenian POWs in Baku: Bone Fractures, No Teeth, No Healthcare [EP571]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 | Category: Human Rights, Politics, ArmeniaAsbed and Hovik describe the dire health of Armenian POWs detained in Baku and detail evidence that Pashinyan deliberately keeps them imprisoned to eliminate political rivals.
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
- Iran warns of a wider regional response
- Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
- Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
- Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
- Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
- Housing policy expose domestic failures
Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026
#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics
From Caspian Drones to Armenia’s Cold Winter | Ep 571, Jul 26, 2026 [EP571]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Iran, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
- Iran warns of a wider regional response
- Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
- Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
- Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
- Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
- Housing policy expose domestic failures
Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026
#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics
Secret German-Russian Talks in Baku: Aliyev Throws Merz Under the Bus [EP571]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, PoliticsAsbed describes how Aliyev publicly contradicted Merz’s denial of secret German-Russian talks in Baku, exposing the backchannels and leverage plays reshaping Ukraine peace negotiations.
Archil Sikharulidze - Armenia and Georgia Between Russia and Europe | Ep 570, Jul 26, 2026 [EP570]
Posted on Monday, Jul 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Georgia, Geopolitics, Politics | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Russia’s changing South Caucasus strategy
- Georgia’s widening dispute with Europe
- Armenia’s shift away from Russia
- Georgia’s role in regional transit
- Armenia-Georgia ties under pressure
Episode 570 | Recorded: July 24, 2026
#Armenia #Georgia #Russia #EuropeanUnion #SouthCaucasus #GeorgianDream #NikolPashinyan #MiddleCorridor
Archil Sikharulidze - Armenia and Georgia Between Russia and Europe | Ep 570, Jul 26, 2026 [EP570]
Posted on Monday, Jul 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Georgia, Geopolitics, PoliticsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Russia’s changing South Caucasus strategy
- Georgia’s widening dispute with Europe
- Armenia’s shift away from Russia
- Georgia’s role in regional transit
- Armenia-Georgia ties under pressure
Episode 570 | Recorded: July 24, 2026
#Armenia #Georgia #Russia #EuropeanUnion #SouthCaucasus #GeorgianDream #NikolPashinyan #MiddleCorridor
Transcript: From Caspian Drones to Armenia’s Cold Winter | Ep 571, Jul 26, 2026 [EP571]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Politics, TranscriptIn this week’s edition of the Armenian News podcast, Hovik and Asbed analyze escalating regional tensions as Ukraine expands operations into the Caspian Sea, striking Iranian and Russian assets. We examine how this merger of the Northern and Southern conflicts affects Armenia, Kazakhstan’s energy security, and Pashinyan’s diplomatic positioning amid new pressure from Western capitals following Aliyev’s recent visits to Germany and Berlin.
Transcript: Archil Sikharulidze - Armenia and Georgia Between Russia and Europe | Ep 570, Jul 26, 2026 [EP570]
Posted on Monday, Jul 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Georgia, Geopolitics, Politics, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Archil Sikharulidze about Russia’s shifting strategy in the South Caucasus and Armenia and Georgia’s diverging paths. We discuss Moscow’s assessment of Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process developments, Georgia’s widening dispute with Europe, Armenia’s shift away from Russia, and how regional transit corridors reshape geopolitical competition between Moscow, Brussels, and Washington.
Iran War, TRIPP Money, and Armenia’s Political Purgatory | Ep 561, Jul 19, 2026 [EP568]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- US-Iran War Continues
- Summer Lull in Yerevan Politics
- Konstantin Sokolov: Master of TRIPP & Teghut
- UN: Abp. Galstanyan Charges Unjustified
- Armenian POW Slams Pashinyan from Baku
Episode 568 | Recorded: July 20, 2026
#IranWar #TRIPP #Teghut #Armenia #PoliticalPrisoners #ArmenianPOWs #KonstantinSokolov
Iran War, TRIPP Money, and Armenia’s Political Purgatory | Ep 561, Jul 19, 2026 [EP568]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- US-Iran War Continues
- Summer Lull in Yerevan Politics
- Konstantin Sokolov: Master of TRIPP & Teghut
- UN: Abp. Galstanyan Charges Unjustified
- Armenian POW Slams Pashinyan from Baku
Episode 568 | Recorded: July 20, 2026
#IranWar #TRIPP #Teghut #Armenia #PoliticalPrisoners #ArmenianPOWs #KonstantinSokolov
Transcript: Iran War, TRIPP Money, and Armenia’s Political Purgatory | Ep 561, Jul 19, 2026 [EP568]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this week’s Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed break down escalating tensions across the Middle East as the US-Iran war intensifies following the collapse of the June ceasefire. We examine the strategic implications for Armenia and the South Caucasus, the role of TRIPP advocates like Konstantin Sokolov, and how regional instability intersects with Pashinyan’s political vulnerabilities at home, including charges against Archbishop Galstanyan and ongoing Armenian POW cases.
NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- NATO summit in Ankara
- Iran War Update
- Taking Scissors to Armenia
- Shaping the Parliament
- OSCE vs. Garegin II
Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026
#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE
NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- NATO summit in Ankara
- Iran War Update
- Taking Scissors to Armenia
- Shaping the Parliament
- OSCE vs. Garegin II
Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026
#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE
Transcript: NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed cover the 36th NATO summit in Ankara, escalating Iran war developments, and Armenia’s removal of murals honoring fallen soldiers. We discuss NATO’s defense spending surge, Trump’s shift on Turkey and F-35 access, Ukraine aid commitments, and what these geopolitical shifts mean for Armenia and the South Caucasus amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations.
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Ukraine’s long war and endgame
- Novorossiya and a landlocked Ukraine?
- Europe rearms against Russia
- NATO 3.0 and containment
- Armenia’s post-election Western pivot
- EU promises versus EAEU dependence
- TRIPP, Syunik, and Russian red lines
Episode 566 | Recorded: July 9, 2026
#Russia #UkraineWar #NATO #Europe #Armenia #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Syunik #EAEU
Dmitry Suslov - Ukraine’s Endgame, Armenia’s Crossroads | Ep 566, Jul 11, 2026 [EP566]
Posted on Saturday, Jul 11, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, PoliticsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Ukraine’s long war and endgame
- Novorossiya and a landlocked Ukraine?
- Europe rearms against Russia
- NATO 3.0 and containment
- Armenia’s post-election Western pivot
- EU promises versus EAEU dependence
- TRIPP, Syunik, and Russian red lines
Episode 566 | Recorded: July 9, 2026
#Russia #UkraineWar #NATO #Europe #Armenia #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Syunik #EAEU
Transcript: Dmitry Suslov - Ukraine’s Endgame, Armenia’s Crossroads | Ep 566, Jul 11, 2026 [EP566]
Posted on Saturday, Jul 11, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Politics, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about Russia’s strategic position across multiple fronts: the Ukraine War, Armenia’s post-election Western pivot, TRIPP and Syunik, and Europe’s rearmament against Russia. We discuss the long-term confrontation between Russia and NATO, Pashinyan’s Western alignment after the June 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, and how transport corridors in the South Caucasus may reshape regional containment lines.
EU Praises Aliyev for Peace While Ignoring Armenian POWs and Ethnic Cleansing [EP564]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Human Rights, Geopolitics, ArmeniaEU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Baku and praised Aliyev for peace and cooperation, while remaining silent on Armenian POWs still held, ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, and destruction of Armenian heritage sites.
If Aliyev Kills 99% of Armenians, EU Will Thank Him for the Museum [EP564]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Human Rights, Geopolitics, ArmeniaHovik’s stark warning that EU priorities have shifted so radically toward Azerbaijan that even large-scale ethnic cleansing would likely be reframed as regional stability and economic progress.
The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Court rubber stamps stolen elections
- Von der Leyen in the South Caucasus
- EU connectivity push in Caucasus
- Rubinyan vs. Simonyan
- Post-election opposition raids begin
- IMEI or IMEI not
Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState
The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Court rubber stamps stolen elections
- Von der Leyen in the South Caucasus
- EU connectivity push in Caucasus
- Rubinyan vs. Simonyan
- Post-election opposition raids begin
- IMEI or IMEI not
Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState
Transcript: The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 [EP564]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 8, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this episode of Groong Week in Review for July 5, 2026, Hovik and Asbed analyze Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruling upholding the disputed 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election results. We examine the disqualification of Prosperous Armenia votes, Civil Contract’s three-fifths majority, the opposition’s parliamentary leverage, and what these outcomes mean for Armenian sovereignty amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process negotiations and regional pressures.
Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Election Aftermath, Russian Warnings, Israeli Recognition | Ep 563, Jul 2, 2026 [EP563]
Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- US-Iran MoU
- Election Aftermath
- Russian Warnings to Armenia
- Israeli Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Episode 563 | Recorded: July 1, 2026
#ArmenianNews #IranWar #DziunikAghajanian #ArmenianElections #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianGenocide
Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Election Aftermath, Russian Warnings, Israeli Recognition | Ep 563, Jul 2, 2026 [EP563]
Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- US-Iran MoU
- Election Aftermath
- Russian Warnings to Armenia
- Israeli Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Episode 563 | Recorded: July 1, 2026
#ArmenianNews #IranWar #DziunikAghajanian #ArmenianElections #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianGenocide
Transcript: Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Election Aftermath, Russian Warnings, Israeli Recognition | Ep 563, Jul 2, 2026 [EP563]
Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Amb. Dziunik Aghajanian about the Iran-Israel conflict, Armenia’s 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election aftermath, and Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We discuss whether the US-Iran MOU represents genuine de-escalation or a tactical pause before renewed confrontation, the Constitutional Court’s review of election fraud allegations against the Civil Contract regime, and Russia’s warnings to Armenia amid regional instability.
When Israel Recognizes and Yerevan Dodges | Ep 562, Apr 25, 2026 [EP562]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Israel Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
- Russian Warnings Continue
- Post Election Limbo
Episode 562 | Recorded: June 29, 2026
#ArmenianGenocide #Armenia #Israel #Pashinyan #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus
When Israel Recognizes and Yerevan Dodges | Ep 562, Apr 25, 2026 [EP562]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Israel Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
- Russian Warnings Continue
- Post Election Limbo
Episode 562 | Recorded: June 29, 2026
#ArmenianGenocide #Armenia #Israel #Pashinyan #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus
Transcript: When Israel Recognizes and Yerevan Dodges | Ep 562, Apr 25, 2026 [EP562]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this week’s Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discuss Israel’s historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Russia’s ongoing warnings toward Armenia, and the political uncertainty following the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We examine the geopolitical context behind Israel’s decision, Pashinyan’s measured response, and what these developments signal about Armenia’s regional position amid shifting US-Turkey relations and broader Middle East tensions.
Team Telecom Routes Armenian Internet Through Azerbaijan: A Strategic Trap [EP561]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 | Category: Technology, Geopolitics, Armenia, AzerbaijanArmenia agreed to route internet traffic through Azerbaijan, creating cybersecurity vulnerabilities and strategic dependency on a hostile neighbor with territorial ambitions.
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Election aftermath and disputed legitimacy
- Threats against opposition parties
- Armenia-Russia tensions after vote
- EU lifeline for Armenian exports
- Polling failures and hidden votes
Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling
Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026 [EP559]
Posted on Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, PollGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Election aftermath and disputed legitimacy
- Threats against opposition parties
- Armenia-Russia tensions after vote
- EU lifeline for Armenian exports
- Polling failures and hidden votes
Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling
Transcript: Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026 [EP559]
Posted on Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Hrant Mikaelian about the disputed aftermath of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary election. We discuss allegations of electoral fraud, threats against opposition parties, the Anti-Corruption Committee’s proposed ban on opposition groups, Armenia-Russia tensions following the vote, and the EU’s financial support for Armenian agricultural exports amid Russian sanctions.
Why Armenia and Georgia Must Stay United or Face Azerbaijan Hegemony [EP558]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 16, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, ArmeniaHovik warns that Armenia and Georgia must maintain strong partnership to resist external pressures. Without unity, Azerbaijan will emerge as the regional hegemon, benefiting from competition between its neighbors.
2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026 [EP556]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 10, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Disputed mandate, unresolved majority
- Election-day irregularities in plain sight
- ODIHR’s mixed preliminary verdict
- Bribery replaced by state spending
- Opposition’s next steps uncertain
Episode 556 | Recorded: Jun 9, 2026 #ArmenianElections #ArmenianNews #CivilContract #Pashinyan #Election2026 #SouthCaucasus
2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026 [EP556]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 10, 2026 | Category: Armenia, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Disputed mandate, unresolved majority
- Election-day irregularities in plain sight
- ODIHR’s mixed preliminary verdict
- Bribery replaced by state spending
- Opposition’s next steps uncertain
Episode 556 | Recorded: Jun 9, 2026 #ArmenianElections #ArmenianNews #CivilContract #Pashinyan #Election2026 #SouthCaucasus
Transcript: 2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026 [EP556]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 10, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, TranscriptIn this episode of Groong Week in Review, we analyze the disputed results of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We examine Civil Contract’s contested majority, alleged irregularities and invalid ballots, the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary report, the last-minute exclusion of Prosperous Armenia, opposition arrests and pressure, and what a three-fifths majority could mean for Armenia’s courts, institutions, and foreign policy.
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
Groong Links:
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, GeorgiaGroong Links:
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, TranscriptIn 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.
Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026 [EP552]
Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Russia, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Turkey, Iran, Georgia | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- TRIPP and Regional Balance
- Armenia’s Geopolitical Election
- Pashinyan’s “Real Armenia”
- Russia’s Economic Pressure
Episode 552 | Recorded: May 31, 2026
#RussiaArmenia #SergeyMarkedonov #ArmeniaElections #Pashinyan #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #RealArmenia #EAEU
Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026 [EP552]
Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Russia, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Turkey, Iran, GeorgiaGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- TRIPP and Regional Balance
- Armenia’s Geopolitical Election
- Pashinyan’s “Real Armenia”
- Russia’s Economic Pressure
Episode 552 | Recorded: May 31, 2026
#RussiaArmenia #SergeyMarkedonov #ArmeniaElections #Pashinyan #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #RealArmenia #EAEU
Transcript: Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026 [EP552]
Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Russia, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Sergey Markedonov about Russia-Armenia relations and Armenia’s geopolitical position ahead of the June 7, 2026 Armenian parliamentary elections. We discuss the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), Russian concerns about regional balance, Pashinyan’s westward orientation, economic pressure from Moscow, and how Armenia’s strategic partnerships will shape its future in the South Caucasus.
Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026 [EP550]
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Rubio’s sudden Armenia visit
- Polls diverge before election
- Hidden vote raises questions
- TRIPP remains deeply polarizing
- “Western Azerbaijan” pressure grows
- Opposition faces arrests, threats
- “Why are you alive?” campaign rhetoric
Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition
Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026 [EP550]
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, ChinaGroong Links:
Topics:
- Rubio’s sudden Armenia visit
- Polls diverge before election
- Hidden vote raises questions
- TRIPP remains deeply polarizing
- “Western Azerbaijan” pressure grows
- Opposition faces arrests, threats
- “Why are you alive?” campaign rhetoric
Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition
Transcript: Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026 [EP550]
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, TranscriptThis 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.
Edgar Elbakyan - The Battle for Armenia’s Political Future | Ep 549, May 24, 2026 [EP549]
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia’s existential election
- Polling under fear
- Divergent polling results
- Church and state conflict
- Post-election street pressure
Episode 549 | Recorded: May 22, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #EdgarElbakyan #StrongArmenia #ArmeniaAlliance #ArmeniaElections
Edgar Elbakyan - The Battle for Armenia’s Political Future | Ep 549, May 24, 2026 [EP549]
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, AzerbaijanGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia’s existential election
- Polling under fear
- Divergent polling results
- Church and state conflict
- Post-election street pressure
Episode 549 | Recorded: May 22, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #EdgarElbakyan #StrongArmenia #ArmeniaAlliance #ArmeniaElections
Groong News Digest — Week of May 18–24, 2026
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Category: Digest, News DigestArmenia’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.
Parties and Alliances in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 548, May 22, 2026 [EP548]
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, BRICS, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, European Union | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Armenia’s election rules
- Parties and alliances competing
- MPG polling and thresholds
- Opposition challenges and turnout
- Geopolitical positions heatmap
Episode 548 | Recorded: May 22, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #ArmenianPolitics #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #HayastanDashinq
Parties and Alliances in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 548, May 22, 2026 [EP548]
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, BRICS, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, European UnionGroong Links:
Topics:
- Armenia’s election rules
- Parties and alliances competing
- MPG polling and thresholds
- Opposition challenges and turnout
- Geopolitical positions heatmap
Episode 548 | Recorded: May 22, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #ArmenianPolitics #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #HayastanDashinq
Transcript: Edgar Elbakyan - The Battle for Armenia’s Political Future | Ep 549, May 24, 2026 [EP549]
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, TranscriptThis Conversations on Groong episode features Edgar Elbakyan in a discussion of Armenia’s upcoming election and the wider struggle over the country’s political future. The conversation examines whether the vote should be viewed as an existential election, how fear and pressure shape public opinion, why polling results differ so sharply, and which political forces may be positioned to enter parliament. The episode also looks at whether the opposition is focused on the issues that matter most, including statehood, security, public trust, and the possibility that the election may not end at the ballot box.
Transcript: Parties and Alliances in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 548, May 22, 2026 [EP548]
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, BRICS, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, European Union, TranscriptThis Conversations on Groong episode provides a primer on Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, reviewing the 17 parties and 2 alliances registered to compete. The discussion explains the election rules, thresholds, coalition process, and the “stable majority” mechanism, while stressing the uneven political environment facing opposition forces. The episode then walks through each participant, including Civil Contract, Strong Armenia, Armenia Alliance, Prosperous Armenia, Wings of Unity, Bright Armenia, ANC, Bever, Republic, DOK, Democratic Consolidation, and smaller parties with Read More
Pashinyan's Hate Speech, Threats, and the June 7 Election Climate | Ep 547, May 17, 2026 [EP547]
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Election, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, NATO | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Trump, China, and Iran
- Armenia-Russia “soft divorce”
- Pashinyan’s violent campaign rhetoric
- State resources and election pressure
- Javakhk church vandalism concerns
Episode 547 | Recorded: May 18, 2026
#Pashinyan #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianPolitics #PoliticalViolence #HateSpeech #ArmeniaRussia #IranWar #SouthCaucasus
Pashinyan's Hate Speech, Threats, and the June 7 Election Climate | Ep 547, May 17, 2026 [EP547]
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Election, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, NATOGroong Links:
Topics:
- Trump, China, and Iran
- Armenia-Russia “soft divorce”
- Pashinyan’s violent campaign rhetoric
- State resources and election pressure
- Javakhk church vandalism concerns
Episode 547 | Recorded: May 18, 2026
#Pashinyan #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianPolitics #PoliticalViolence #HateSpeech #ArmeniaRussia #IranWar #SouthCaucasus
Transcript: Pashinyan's Hate Speech, Threats, and the June 7 Election Climate | Ep 547, May 17, 2026 [EP547]
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Election, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, NATO, TranscriptThis 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.
Arman Grigoryan - Revolutionary Recklessness: Armenia After the War | Ep 546, May 15, 2026 [EP546]
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Iran, Israel, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Revolutionary recklessness after 2020
- Armenia’s pivot away from Russia
- Artsakh’s surrender and strategic reorientation
- TRIPP, Syunik, and security guarantees
- Western backing, Armenian risk
Episode 546 | Recorded: May 13, 2026
#ArmanGrigoryan #Armenia #Russia #Pashinyan #Artsakh #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics