Civil Contract

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021

Topics:

• Continued Instability along Armenia-Azerbaijan Borders
• National Assembly Commission on the 44-Day War
• First Session of the 8th Session of the Armenian Parliament

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html

Calls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War

A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan

The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.

A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for

Calls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War

A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan

The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.

A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Decisions on Election Results
• New Pashinyan Appointments
• More Threats from Azerbaijan
• Russian Generals in Yerevan Again

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Suren Sargsyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Decisions on Election Results
• New Pashinyan Appointments
• More Threats from Azerbaijan
• Russian Generals in Yerevan Again

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Suren Sargsyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

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

• Armenian Elections Recap
• Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

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

• Armenian Elections Recap
• Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

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

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

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

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

Guest(s):

• Robert

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

Guest(s):

• Robert

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

Hayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance), Elections and Postwar Outlook

Guest

Aspram Krpeyan, is a member of the Hayastan Dashinq led by former president Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming elections in Armenia, and a member of its list of parliamentary party representatives. She holds an MSt in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford and an LLM from the Geneva Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research interests lie in international law with a focus on the interplay between international humanitarian law and human rights, use of force, including the conduct

Hayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance), Elections and Postwar Outlook

Guest

Aspram Krpeyan, is a member of the Hayastan Dashinq led by former president Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming elections in Armenia, and a member of its list of parliamentary party representatives. She holds an MSt in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford and an LLM from the Geneva Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research interests lie in international law with a focus on the interplay between international humanitarian law and human rights, use of force, including the conduct

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:

• Meltdown at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Philip Reeker’s Visit to the Region
• 15 POWs Return Home
• Latest Election Poll Results

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:

• Meltdown at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Philip Reeker’s Visit to the Region
• 15 POWs Return Home
• Latest Election Poll Results

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
• Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
• Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:

• Continued Tensions on the Eastern Border
• Latest IRI and MPG Polls on the Armenian Elections
• Election Politics

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• George Tabakyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• George Tabakian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:

• Continued Tensions on the Eastern Border
• Latest IRI and MPG Polls on the Armenian Elections
• Election Politics

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• George Tabakyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• George Tabakian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

• Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
• Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
• Electoral Politics

Guests:

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

• Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
• Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
• Electoral Politics

Guests:

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

• President Sargsyan’s Interview
• Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
• Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
• Opposition Protests on Feb 20
• Govsagan, in the end

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
• Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

• President Sargsyan’s Interview
• Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
• Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
• Opposition Protests on Feb 20
• Govsagan, in the end

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
• Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• What took place in 2018?
• Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
• Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
• Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
• Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• What took place in 2018?
• Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
• Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
• Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
• Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

• The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
• Armenia’s foreign policy;
• Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
• Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

• The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
• Armenia’s foreign policy;
• Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
• Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020

CoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020

It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.

In this

CoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020

It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.

In this