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.
Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan | Ep #120 - Feb 18, 2022 [EP120]
Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Genocide, Azerbaijan, Economy, Artsakh, Armenian Genocide, Russia, Human Rights, USA | Series: COG
Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan - February 18, 2022
Topics:
- Constitutional Change Commission
- Artsakh Law on Occupied Territories
- State of Bright Armenia Party
- Turkish-Armenian Normalization
Guest:
- Edmon Marukyan, who is a lawyer by profession and the leader of the Bright Armenia party (Ô¼Õ¸ÖÕ½Õ¡Õ¾Õ¸Ö ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶). He was a member of the fifth, sixth and seventh convocations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from 2012 till 2021. Heâs also a member of the newly formed commission to amend the constitution.
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed
Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan | Ep #120 - Feb 18, 2022 [EP120]
Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Genocide, Azerbaijan, Economy, Artsakh, Armenian Genocide, Russia, Human Rights, USAPolitical Topics with Edmon Marukyan - February 18, 2022
Topics:
- Constitutional Change Commission
- Artsakh Law on Occupied Territories
- State of Bright Armenia Party
- Turkish-Armenian Normalization
Guest:
- Edmon Marukyan, who is a lawyer by profession and the leader of the Bright Armenia party (Ô¼Õ¸ÖÕ½Õ¡Õ¾Õ¸Ö ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶). He was a member of the fifth, sixth and seventh convocations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from 2012 till 2021. Heâs also a member of the newly formed commission to amend the constitution.
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
- 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
- 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
- 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
- 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
- 01:18:51 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
- 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
- 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
- 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
- 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
- 01:18:51 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:10 The Continuing Ukraine Crisis
- Putin in Beijing, Erdogan in Kyiv, Pashinyan at Olympic Diplomacy?
- 23:44 Civil Contract Nominates Vahagn Khachatryan for President
- 41:21 New IRI Poll Results
- 58:57 Rants
Guests:
- Dr. Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:10 The Continuing Ukraine Crisis
- Putin in Beijing, Erdogan in Kyiv, Pashinyan at Olympic Diplomacy?
- 23:44 Civil Contract Nominates Vahagn Khachatryan for President
- 41:21 New IRI Poll Results
- 58:57 Rants
Guests:
- Dr. Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human Rights | Series: cog
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
Topics:
- Introduction
- Decisions of the International Court of Justice
- Turkish-Armenian âNormalizationâ
- More Constitutional Changes
- Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
- Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
- Legislating Away Civil Liberties
Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]
Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human RightsLegal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
Topics:
- Introduction
- Decisions of the International Court of Justice
- Turkish-Armenian âNormalizationâ
- More Constitutional Changes
- Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
- Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
- Legislating Away Civil Liberties
Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:04 President Armen Sarkissian Resigns
- 20:46 Russia-NATO Standoff over Ukraine
- 47:55 Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Comedy
Guests:
- Dr. Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan twitter.com/HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian twitter.com/qubriq
Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022