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.
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel | Series: WIR
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
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, IsraelArmenian 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
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, weâre analyzing what didnât work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for
Read MoreAnna Abrahamian: The opposition must impeach | Ep 161 - Aug 29, 2022 [EP161]
Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, IranArmenian 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, weâre analyzing what didnât 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 âPeace Planâ coming?
- 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
- 54:15 Rant
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Opposition restart | Berdzor & Aghavno | "Peace Plan" | Military service | Ep 160 - Aug 28, 2022 [EP160]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Iran, Economy, Syria, UkraineArmenian 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 âPeace Planâ coming?
- 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
- 54:15 Rant
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Surmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, Ukraine | Series: WIR
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
Surmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, UkraineArmenian 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
Tevan Poghosyan: CIA in EVN | Armen Grigoryan | Papazian Banned | FMs Meet | Ep #148 - July 17, 2022 [EP148]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Human Rights, Syria, Genocide, Middle East, Ukraine | Series: WIR
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