Tag: Civil Contract
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Civil Contract is the ruling political party of Armenia, founded and led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. It rose to power following the 2018 so-called “Velvet Revolution” (which critics term a “regime change”) and obtained parliamentary majority in the 2021 snap elections, giving it the supermajority that has defined Armenia’s legislative landscape for the past several years. The opposition challenged the results of the election as unfair.
With more than 80 episodes referencing the party, Groong’s coverage of Civil Contract is extensive. Topics include the government’s handling of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war and its aftermath, the peace negotiation process with Azerbaijan, Armenia’s pivot away from Russia and toward the European Union and the United States, the crackdown on opposition and civic institutions, the 2025 confrontation with the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the party’s campaign positioning ahead of the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections.
Critics of Civil Contract covered in Groong episodes argue that the party has used its supermajority to consolidate power, weaken state institutions, suppress political opposition, and pursue a foreign policy that has left Armenia isolated and vulnerable. Supporters counter that it represents a genuine break from the corruption and military adventurism of previous governments.
Benyamin Poghosyan - Ukraine War update, Pashinyan’s Persecution of Church and Opposition intensifies | Ep 483, Nov 2, 2025 [EP483]
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, USA | Series: video, wir
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ukraine war status and U.S.âRussia dynamics
- Churchâstate tensions and religious prosecutions
- Opposition arrests, trials, and civil liberties
- Border demarcation, enclaves
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Benyamin Poghosyan - Ukraine War update, Pashinyan’s Persecution of Church and Opposition intensifies | Ep 483, Nov 2, 2025 [EP483]
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, USAGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ukraine war status and U.S.âRussia dynamics
- Churchâstate tensions and religious prosecutions
- Opposition arrests, trials, and civil liberties
- Border demarcation, enclaves
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Arthur Khachatryan - Euronest, Aliyev Transit Move, Gyumri Mayor Arrest, Pashinyan vs. Church | Ep 481, Oct 26, 2025 [EP481]
Posted on Friday, Oct 31, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Euronest session takeaways
- Aliyevâs transit move and TRIPP
- Gyumri mayor arrest fallout
- Pashinyanâs push to control the Church
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Arthur Khachatryan - Euronest, Aliyev Transit Move, Gyumri Mayor Arrest, Pashinyan vs. Church | Ep 481, Oct 26, 2025 [EP481]
Posted on Friday, Oct 31, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno KarabakhGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Euronest session takeaways
- Aliyevâs transit move and TRIPP
- Gyumri mayor arrest fallout
- Pashinyanâs push to control the Church
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Benyamin Poghosyan - Ajapahyan Sentenced, Moldova, EPC, Peace Act, Dismantling the Armenian Military | Ep 477, Oct 5, 2025 [EP477]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Israel | Series: video, wir
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ajapahyan Sentenced: 2 Years in Jail for speaking out!
- Moldova Election Lessons
- EPC in Copenhagen, WSF in Warsaw
- PEACE Act politics
- Dismantling the Armenian Military
Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025
Benyamin Poghosyan - Ajapahyan Sentenced, Moldova, EPC, Peace Act, Dismantling the Armenian Military | Ep 477, Oct 5, 2025 [EP477]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, IsraelGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ajapahyan Sentenced: 2 Years in Jail for speaking out!
- Moldova Election Lessons
- EPC in Copenhagen, WSF in Warsaw
- PEACE Act politics
- Dismantling the Armenian Military
Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025
44-Day War, A Tale of Betrayal | Ep 476, Sep 28, 2025 [EP476]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Genocide | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Pashinyan’s rise and Western backing
- Breakdown of talks and secret meetings
- Failures and propaganda during the war
- Aftermath, revisionism, and political responsibility
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
44-Day War, A Tale of Betrayal | Ep 476, Sep 28, 2025 [EP476]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, GenocideGroong Links:
Topics:
- Pashinyan’s rise and Western backing
- Breakdown of talks and secret meetings
- Failures and propaganda during the war
- Aftermath, revisionism, and political responsibility
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Archil Sikharulidze - Georgian Municipal Elections 2025 | Ep 475, Sep 30, 2025 [EP475]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2025 | Category: Georgia, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Municipal Elections & Tbilisi Politics
- Foreign Agent Law, One Year Later
- Georgian Perspectives on TRIPP
Episode 475 | Recorded: September 28, 2025