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.

Putin / Pashinyan | Const. Court | Steel out of Velvet | Year-in-Review (Ep #78) - July 11, 2021 [EP78]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Economy, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, Syria, Genocide, Middle East | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

  • Putin / Pashinyan meeting
  • Constitutional Court Challenge
  • Forging Steel out of Velvet
  • Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

Putin / Pashinyan | Const. Court | Steel out of Velvet | Year-in-Review (Ep #78) - July 11, 2021 [EP78]

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Economy, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, Syria, Genocide, Middle East

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

  • Putin / Pashinyan meeting
  • Constitutional Court Challenge
  • Forging Steel out of Velvet
  • Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

Armenian Elections Recap | Protests in Artsakh | (Ep #76) - June 27, 2021 [EP76]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Economy, Turkey | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenian Elections Recap
  • Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html

Armenian Elections Recap | Protests in Artsakh | (Ep #76) - June 27, 2021 [EP76]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Economy, Turkey

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenian Elections Recap
  • Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html

Aram Navasardyan: How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy? (Ep #75) - June 21, 2021 [EP75]

Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2021 | Category: In Armenian, Armenia, Politics, Poll, | Series: COG

How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy With Election Results? A Conversation (in Armenian) with Aram Navasardyan

Guest: Aram Navasardyan is Director of MPG, a member of Gallup International Association and one of the main pollsters in the pre-election campaign for June 2021 parliamentary elections.

– Ինչպե՞ս բացատրել MPG- ի հարցումների անհամապատասխանությունը ընտրությունների արդյունքների հետ Զրույց Արամ Նավասարդյանի հետ

Հյուր: Արամ Նավասարդյանը MPG- ի տնօրենն է որը հանդիսանում է Gallup International Association- ի անդամ և հիմնական հետազոտական կազմակերպություններից մեկն եր 2021

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Aram Navasardyan: How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy? (Ep #75) - June 21, 2021 [EP75]

Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2021 | Category: In Armenian, Armenia, Politics, Poll,

How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy With Election Results? A Conversation (in Armenian) with Aram Navasardyan

Guest: Aram Navasardyan is Director of MPG, a member of Gallup International Association and one of the main pollsters in the pre-election campaign for June 2021 parliamentary elections.

– Ինչպե՞ս բացատրել MPG- ի հարցումների անհամապատասխանությունը ընտրությունների արդյունքների հետ Զրույց Արամ Նավասարդյանի հետ

Հյուր: Արամ Նավասարդյանը MPG- ի տնօրենն է որը հանդիսանում է Gallup International Association- ի անդամ և հիմնական հետազոտական կազմակերպություններից մեկն եր 2021

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ArmVote21 | Am/Az Negotiations | Erdogan in Az | Biden Meets Erdogan & Putin| Ep #74 - June 20, 2021 [EP74]

Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, China, Middle East, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine | Series: WIR

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenia’s Elections
  • Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • Erdogan in Azerbaijan
  • Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • @Emil_Sanamyan

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html

ArmVote21 | Am/Az Negotiations | Erdogan in Az | Biden Meets Erdogan & Putin| Ep #74 - June 20, 2021 [EP74]

Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, China, Middle East, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenia’s Elections
  • Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • Erdogan in Azerbaijan
  • Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • @Emil_Sanamyan

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html

Robert Markarian: Party Platforms in June 20 Parliamentary Elections (Ep #73) - June 20, 2021 [EP73]

Posted on Saturday, Jun 19, 2021 | Category: In Armenian, Armenia, Politics, Economy, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Russia, Iran | Series: COG

Analyzing Party Platforms in June 20 Parliamentary Elections

A Conversation with Robert Markarian

Guest:

Robert Markarian was born in Iran and has university education in physics and law. For 25 years, he has worked as a host, editor, and analyst on Armenian Radio Hour in Iran’s public radio and television. He has cooperated articles covering Armenia and Artsakh in Armenian, Persian, and English published by Iranian and Armenian sites and analytical centers.

Topics:

  • Security/Defense
  • Economy and Social
  • Artsakh
  • Diaspora Relations

Conversation in English and Armenian

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
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