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.

“Positive Messages” | Street Rallies | Election Setbacks | Siradeghyan Dies | Ep #94 - Oct 24, 2021 [EP94]

Posted on Monday, Oct 25, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh, Iran, Human Rights, Georgia, Turkey, China | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021

Topics:

  • Yerevan’s “Positive Messages”
  • Opposition Going Back to Street Rallies?
  • Ruling Party Setbacks in Local Elections
  • Vano Siradeghyan Dies

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Hosts:

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

Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html

“Positive Messages” | Street Rallies | Election Setbacks | Siradeghyan Dies | Ep #94 - Oct 24, 2021 [EP94]

Posted on Monday, Oct 25, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh, Iran, Human Rights, Georgia, Turkey, China

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021

Topics:

  • Yerevan’s “Positive Messages”
  • Opposition Going Back to Street Rallies?
  • Ruling Party Setbacks in Local Elections
  • Vano Siradeghyan Dies

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Hosts:

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

Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html

Flurry of Diplomacy | Regional Results | Vaccine Update | Trust in Gov Info | Ep #92 - Oct 17, 2021 [EP92]

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Economy, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, India, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Ukraine | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 17, 2021

Topics:

  • A Flurry of Diplomatic Activity
  • Results from Tavush, Shirak and Syunik
  • Vaccination in Armenia
  • Trust in the Authorities about Information from Border Areas

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m

Hosts:

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

Episode 92 | Recorded: October 18, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211017.html

Flurry of Diplomacy | Regional Results | Vaccine Update | Trust in Gov Info | Ep #92 - Oct 17, 2021 [EP92]

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Economy, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, India, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Ukraine

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 17, 2021

Topics:

  • A Flurry of Diplomatic Activity
  • Results from Tavush, Shirak and Syunik
  • Vaccination in Armenia
  • Trust in the Authorities about Information from Border Areas

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m

Hosts:

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

Episode 92 | Recorded: October 18, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211017.html

Syunik Blocked and Unblocked | 5-Year Plan Approved | Parliamentary Dynamics | Ep #87 - Aug 29, 2021 [EP87]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh, Economy, Georgia, Israel, Middle East | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2021

Topics:

  • Road to Syunik Blocked and Unblocked
  • 5-Year Plan Approved
  • Parliamentary Dynamics

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan / TW @Benyamin_Poghos

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian / TW @qubriq

Episode 87 | Recorded: August 29, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210829.html

Syunik Blocked and Unblocked | 5-Year Plan Approved | Parliamentary Dynamics | Ep #87 - Aug 29, 2021 [EP87]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh, Economy, Georgia, Israel, Middle East

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2021

Topics:

  • Road to Syunik Blocked and Unblocked
  • 5-Year Plan Approved
  • Parliamentary Dynamics

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan / TW @Benyamin_Poghos

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian / TW @qubriq

Episode 87 | Recorded: August 29, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210829.html

5-year plan | Russia Arming Armenia | Press Freedoms Cut | PaneliTopics | Ep #86 - August 22, 2021 [EP86]

Posted on Monday, Aug 23, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Georgia, Iran, Economy, Syria, Israel, Turkey | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021

Topics:

  • The Government’s 5-Year Plan
  • Is Russia Rearming Armenia? Artsakh?
  • Press Freedoms Curtailed in Parliament
  • Topics from the Panelists

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html

5-year plan | Russia Arming Armenia | Press Freedoms Cut | PaneliTopics | Ep #86 - August 22, 2021 [EP86]

Posted on Monday, Aug 23, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Georgia, Iran, Economy, Syria, Israel, Turkey

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021

Topics:

  • The Government’s 5-Year Plan
  • Is Russia Rearming Armenia? Artsakh?
  • Press Freedoms Curtailed in Parliament
  • Topics from the Panelists

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html

Lebanon | Afghanistan | Armenian Parliament | Artsakh | Ep #85 - Aug 15, 2021 [EP85]

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, China, Syria, Artsakh, Middle East, Economy, Genocide, Human Rights, India, Israel | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 15, 2021

Topics:

  • Lebanon in Crisis
  • Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
  • 8th Convocation of the Parliament
  • Developments around Artsakh

Guests:

Asbed Kotchikian is an Associate Professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia.

Benyamin Poghosyan is the chairman of the Center For Political and Economic Strategic Studies, a Yerevan based think tank. He was deputy

 Read More