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.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
  • How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
  • Russia’s Contributions to the process
  • Options and Scenarios Going Forwards

Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022

Guest:

Topics:

  • Meetings in Prague
  • Pashinyan Consolidating Power
  • Personal Rants

Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022

Guest:

Topics:

  • Meetings in Prague
  • Pashinyan Consolidating Power
  • Personal Rants

Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Armenia Relations
  • Azerbaijan’s Maps and Claims
  • Azerbaijan Continues to Occupy Armenia
  • Internal Politics in Armenia

Episode 166 | Recorded: October 1 & 3, 2022

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Armenia Relations
  • Azerbaijan’s Maps and Claims
  • Azerbaijan Continues to Occupy Armenia
  • Internal Politics in Armenia

Episode 166 | Recorded: October 1 & 3, 2022

Guests:

Topics:

  • Azerbaijani Aggression
  • Russia and CSTO
  • UN & International Reaction
  • War Communications (with Karen Vrtanesyan)
  • Nancy Pelosi’s Visit (with Suren Sargsyan)

Episode 165 | Recorded: Sunday, September 18, 2022

Guests:

Topics:

  • Azerbaijani Aggression
  • Russia and CSTO
  • UN & International Reaction
  • War Communications (with Karen Vrtanesyan)
  • Nancy Pelosi’s Visit (with Suren Sargsyan)

Episode 165 | Recorded: Sunday, September 18, 2022

From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan

Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022

Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors

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From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan

Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022

Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors

 Read More

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

  • Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
  • What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
  • US Armenia Relations
  • Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

  • Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
  • Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

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Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

  • Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
  • What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
  • US Armenia Relations
  • Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

  • Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
  • Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

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Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022

Topics:

  • September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
    • September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
  • Developments in Geopolitics
    • There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
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Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022

Topics:

  • September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
    • September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
  • Developments in Geopolitics
    • There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
 Read More

Anna Abrahamian: The opposition must impeach | Ep 161 - Aug 29, 2022 [EP161]

Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran | Series: cog

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian

In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.

Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, we’re analyzing what didn’t work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for

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Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian

In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.

Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, we’re analyzing what didn’t work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for

 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

Armenian News Network / Groong

Ներքաղաքանան իրավիճակը Հայաստանում Էդգար Ղազարյանի հետ The State of Armenian Politics with Edgar Ghazaryan

Թեմաներ:

  • Անկախության հռչակագիր
  • Օգոստոսի 23-Õ« հանրահավաքը
  • Անվստահության քվե (Õ«Õ´ÕºÕ«Õ¹Õ´Õ¥Õ¶Õ¿)
  • Փաշինյանն Õ¨Õ¶Õ¶Õ¤Õ¥Õ´ Սահմանադրության
  • Ընդդիմության Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡Õ»Õ«Õ¯Õ¡ անելիքների Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶

Մեր հյուրը`

  • Էդգար Ղազարյան, Վայոց Ձորի Õ¶Õ¡Õ­Õ¯Õ«Õ¶ մարզպետ,
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Armenian News Network / Groong

Ներքաղաքանան իրավիճակը Հայաստանում Էդգար Ղազարյանի հետ The State of Armenian Politics with Edgar Ghazaryan

Թեմաներ:

  • Անկախության հռչակագիր
  • Օգոստոսի 23-Õ« հանրահավաքը
  • Անվստահության քվե (Õ«Õ´ÕºÕ«Õ¹Õ´Õ¥Õ¶Õ¿)
  • Փաշինյանն Õ¨Õ¶Õ¶Õ¤Õ¥Õ´ Սահմանադրության
  • Ընդդիմության Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡Õ»Õ«Õ¯Õ¡ անելիքների Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶

Մեր հյուրը`

  • Էդգար Ղազարյան, Վայոց Ձորի Õ¶Õ¡Õ­Õ¯Õ«Õ¶ մարզպետ,
 Read More

Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked - August 25, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Has Called on Congress to Investigate the Biden Administration’s Artsakh Aid Blockade.
  • The Biden Administration’s Record on Armenian-Backed Resolutions.

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 158 | Recorded on Thursday, August 25, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220825.html

Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked - August 25, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Has Called on Congress to Investigate the Biden Administration’s Artsakh Aid Blockade.
  • The Biden Administration’s Record on Armenian-Backed Resolutions.

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 158 | Recorded on Thursday, August 25, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220825.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:44 Surmalu Blast
    • 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
    • 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
    • 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
    • 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
    • 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
  • 21:52 Foreign Relations
    • 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
    • 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
    • 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
    • 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
    • 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
  • 53:48 Resistance
 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:44 Surmalu Blast
    • 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
    • 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
    • 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
    • 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
    • 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
  • 21:52 Foreign Relations
    • 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
    • 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
    • 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
    • 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
    • 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
  • 53:48 Resistance
 Read More

Talking with Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte | Ep 153 - August 11, 2022

  • Growing up Armenian in Azerbaijan
  • Experiencing Armenia as an Armenian from Azerbaijan
  • Advocating for Armenian Families and Children
  • Thoughts on the condition of Artsakh, and Armenia
  • The projects in progress at Astvatsaturian.org, Anna’s 501c3 charity organization.

Guest:

  • Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an Armenian-American author, city counselor, human rights advocate, and also a refugee from her original city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which her family fled, as violence mounted against Armenians.
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Talking with Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte | Ep 153 - August 11, 2022

  • Growing up Armenian in Azerbaijan
  • Experiencing Armenia as an Armenian from Azerbaijan
  • Advocating for Armenian Families and Children
  • Thoughts on the condition of Artsakh, and Armenia
  • The projects in progress at Astvatsaturian.org, Anna’s 501c3 charity organization.

Guest:

  • Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an Armenian-American author, city counselor, human rights advocate, and also a refugee from her original city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which her family fled, as violence mounted against Armenians.
 Read More

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 7, 2022

Topics:

  • Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh Again
    • Armenian & Artsakh Authorities Evacuating Berdzor & Aghavno Population
  • Avetik Chalabyan Re-arrested

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan - TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 152 | Recorded: Monday, August 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220807.html

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 7, 2022

Topics:

  • Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh Again
    • Armenian & Artsakh Authorities Evacuating Berdzor & Aghavno Population
  • Avetik Chalabyan Re-arrested

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan - TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 152 | Recorded: Monday, August 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220807.html

This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.

The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.

Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022

This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.

The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.

Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 31, 2022

Topics:

  • Tehran 2022 Trilateral Summit
  • “Normalization” or Pax Turkiana?
  • EU - Azerbaijan gas deal
  • Diaspora Personae Non-Grata

Guests:

  • Yeghia Tashjian - TW/@yeghig

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 149 | Recorded: Monday, July 31, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220731.html

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 31, 2022

Topics:

  • Tehran 2022 Trilateral Summit
  • “Normalization” or Pax Turkiana?
  • EU - Azerbaijan gas deal
  • Diaspora Personae Non-Grata

Guests:

  • Yeghia Tashjian - TW/@yeghig

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 149 | Recorded: Monday, July 31, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220731.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 17, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:30 CIA Chief in Armenia
  • 00:18:26 Army Chief Appointed
  • 00:30:41 Armen Grigoryan Dies in Court
  • 00:45:14 Mourad Papazian is Denied Entry in Armenia
  • 00:57:04 Bayramov and Mirzoyan in Tbilisi
  • 01:06:11 Rants

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan - TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 148 | Recorded: Monday, July 19, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220717.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 17, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:30 CIA Chief in Armenia
  • 00:18:26 Army Chief Appointed
  • 00:30:41 Armen Grigoryan Dies in Court
  • 00:45:14 Mourad Papazian is Denied Entry in Armenia
  • 00:57:04 Bayramov and Mirzoyan in Tbilisi
  • 01:06:11 Rants

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan - TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 148 | Recorded: Monday, July 19, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220717.html

Armenian News Network/Groong: Current Topics with the Mayor of Glendale - July 14, 2022 A Conversation with Ardy Kassakhian

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:33 Mayor and Councilman of Glendale
  • 21:45 June 2022 Elections
  • 29:03 US National Politics
  • 37:43 Armenian-American Political Advocacy
  • 53:55 Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • 58:00 Relations between Glendale and Armenia

Guest:

  • Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian is a Glendale City Councilman and the current mayor of Glendale.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@hovikyerevan

Episode

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Armenian News Network/Groong: Current Topics with the Mayor of Glendale - July 14, 2022 A Conversation with Ardy Kassakhian

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:33 Mayor and Councilman of Glendale
  • 21:45 June 2022 Elections
  • 29:03 US National Politics
  • 37:43 Armenian-American Political Advocacy
  • 53:55 Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • 58:00 Relations between Glendale and Armenia

Guest:

  • Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian is a Glendale City Councilman and the current mayor of Glendale.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@hovikyerevan

Episode

 Read More

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
  • 47:53 Watch your Internets!
  • 55:58 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html

#armenian #news

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
  • 47:53 Watch your Internets!
  • 55:58 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html

#armenian #news

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:08 Who killed the OSCE Minsk Group?
  • 21:36 Murders in Aparan
  • 27:01 Arthur Vanetsyan Resigns from Parliament
  • 38:51 Gagik Jhangiryan in the Line of Fire
  • 44:39 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:08 Who killed the OSCE Minsk Group?
  • 21:36 Murders in Aparan
  • 27:01 Arthur Vanetsyan Resigns from Parliament
  • 38:51 Gagik Jhangiryan in the Line of Fire
  • 44:39 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
  • 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
  • 34:31 More Artsakh “Peace” Talks, More Border Shootings
  • 52:32 Rants

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan / Թեւան Պողոսյան / TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html

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Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
  • 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
  • 34:31 More Artsakh “Peace” Talks, More Border Shootings
  • 52:32 Rants

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan / Թեւան Պողոսյան / TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html

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Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022

Topics:

  • The Opposition Activates Politics
  • Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
  • War Dividends
  • Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways

Guest:

  • Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq

Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html

#lavrov #armeniannews

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022

Topics:

  • The Opposition Activates Politics
  • Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
  • War Dividends
  • Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways

Guest:

  • Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq

Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html

#lavrov #armeniannews

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
  • 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
  • 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
  • 44:14 Rants

Guests:

Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
  • 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
  • 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
  • 44:14 Rants

Guests:

Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction

  • 02:27 Russia’s Geopolitics: We’ll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russia’s endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.

  • 23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.

  • 42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guest’s area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this

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Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction

  • 02:27 Russia’s Geopolitics: We’ll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russia’s endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.

  • 23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.

  • 42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guest’s area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this

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Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:05 “Agenda of Peace” Negotiations Continue
  • 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
  • 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
  • 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
  • 59:51 Hovik’s Rant

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:05 “Agenda of Peace” Negotiations Continue
  • 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
  • 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
  • 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
  • 59:51 Hovik’s Rant

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
  • 18:19 5 + 6: Armenia’s “Response” to Azerbaijan
  • 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022

Guests:

  • Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
  • Arthur G. Martirosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
  • 18:19 5 + 6: Armenia’s “Response” to Azerbaijan
  • 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022

Guests:

  • Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
  • Arthur G. Martirosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html

ANCA Advocacy Agenda 2022 - MaY 13, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The US/Turkey F-35/F-16 Fallout
  • US Aid to Armenia and Artsakh
  • The Armenian Genocide Education Bill
  • Dr. Oz is Mehmet Oz
  • The US Election Cycles of 2022 and 2024

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 136 | Recorded on Thursday, May 12, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220513.html

ANCA Advocacy Agenda 2022 - MaY 13, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The US/Turkey F-35/F-16 Fallout
  • US Aid to Armenia and Artsakh
  • The Armenian Genocide Education Bill
  • Dr. Oz is Mehmet Oz
  • The US Election Cycles of 2022 and 2024

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 136 | Recorded on Thursday, May 12, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220513.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
  • 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
  • 38:38 Normalization Round 3
  • 52:25 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
  • 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
  • 38:38 Normalization Round 3
  • 52:25 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 1, 2022

Topics:

  • “Peace Agenda” in Motion
  • It’s not the Crime, It’s the Cover Up
  • Opposition Initiates Civil Disobedience
  • What a Nice PM Armenia Has! 🤥

Guest:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 134 | Recorded: Monday, May 2, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220501.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 1, 2022

Topics:

  • “Peace Agenda” in Motion
  • It’s not the Crime, It’s the Cover Up
  • Opposition Initiates Civil Disobedience
  • What a Nice PM Armenia Has! 🤥

Guest:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 134 | Recorded: Monday, May 2, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220501.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.

  • 00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM

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