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.

Aghasi Yenokian - Ruling Party Power Grabs | Early Elections | Judiciary Concerns | Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց | Ep 298, Dec. 14, 2023 [EP298]

Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ruling Party Power Grabs
    • Why is Civil Contract so Adamant on Total Municipal Control
    • Political Prisoners
  • Early/Snap Elections?
  • Armenia’s Controlled Judiciary
  • About Yenokian’s new book: Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց

Episode 298 | Recorded: December 13, 2023

Levon Zourabian - Armenian National Congress | Democracy and Armenia | Negotiations with Azerbaijan | Artsakh | Global Conflicts | Ep 290 - Oct 29, 2023 [EP290]

Posted on Sunday, Oct 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Video, Israel, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Genocide, Ukraine, Iran | Series: cog, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian National Congress (ANC)
  • Democracy and Armenia
  • Azerbaijan-Armenia Negotiations
  • Artsakh
  • Global Conflicts - Israel, Ukraine

Episode 290 | Recorded: October 27, 2023

Levon Zourabian - Armenian National Congress | Democracy and Armenia | Negotiations with Azerbaijan | Artsakh | Global Conflicts | Ep 290 - Oct 29, 2023 [EP290]

Posted on Sunday, Oct 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Video, Israel, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Genocide, Ukraine, Iran

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian National Congress (ANC)
  • Democracy and Armenia
  • Azerbaijan-Armenia Negotiations
  • Artsakh
  • Global Conflicts - Israel, Ukraine

Episode 290 | Recorded: October 27, 2023

Benyamin Poghosyan - At the Brink of a New War? | Armenia Russia Relations | Platform Shuffle: Brussels vs Moscow | Yerevan Mayor | Ep 286, Oct 15, 2023 [EP286]

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Iran | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • At the Brink of a New War?
  • Relations with Russia
  • Platform Shuffle: Brussels vs. Moscow
  • Update on Yerevan Mayor

Episode 286 | Recorded: October 17, 2023

Benyamin Poghosyan - At the Brink of a New War? | Armenia Russia Relations | Platform Shuffle: Brussels vs Moscow | Yerevan Mayor | Ep 286, Oct 15, 2023 [EP286]

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Iran

Guest:

Topics:

  • At the Brink of a New War?
  • Relations with Russia
  • Platform Shuffle: Brussels vs. Moscow
  • Update on Yerevan Mayor

Episode 286 | Recorded: October 17, 2023

Arthur G Martirosyan - The Game of Alternatives | Is Armenia Negotiating Effectively | Ep 282, Oct 3, 2023 [EP282]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, USA | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Game of Alternatives
  • How does it apply to Negotiations?
  • Is Armenia Negotiating Effectively?

Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023

Arthur G Martirosyan - The Game of Alternatives | Is Armenia Negotiating Effectively | Ep 282, Oct 3, 2023 [EP282]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, USA

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Game of Alternatives
  • How does it apply to Negotiations?
  • Is Armenia Negotiating Effectively?

Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023

Dziunik Aghajanian: UN Security Council | Artsakh | Yerevan Elections | Ep 279 - Sep 13, 2023 [EP279]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 13, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog, video

Topics:

  • Armenia’s Diplomacy at the UN
  • Artsakh Elections / Blockade
  • Yerevan Elections

Guest:

Dziunik Aghajanian: UN Security Council | Artsakh | Yerevan Elections | Ep 279 - Sep 13, 2023 [EP279]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 13, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh

Topics:

  • Armenia’s Diplomacy at the UN
  • Artsakh Elections / Blockade
  • Yerevan Elections

Guest: