Corruption

Last updated: June 11, 2026

Corruption in Armenia remains systemic and deeply embedded across state institutions, despite Nikol Pashinyan ’s initial 2018 anti-corruption promises during the so-called Velvet Revolution. The Civil Contract government has prosecuted former officials and oligarchs, including Robert Kocharyan and others associated with the pre-2018 Republican Party of Armenia , but international observers and domestic critics argue that these cases reflect selective justice rather than systematic reform. The judiciary remains vulnerable to political interference. Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index and Freedom House assessments have consistently rated Armenia poorly on rule of law, judicial independence, and control of oligarchic capture.

The Constitutional Court as a Tool of Political Control

The Constitutional Court standoff (2019–2026) exemplifies how Pashinyan’s government weaponized anti-corruption against the judiciary itself. In May 2019, after the Constitutional Court suspended a trial of former President Robert Kocharyan, Pashinyan called for “mandatory” vetting of judges. By September 2019, facing favorable Constitutional Court rulings on Kocharyan’s appeals, Pashinyan’s parliamentary allies moved to dismantle the independent court. In October 2019, parliament requested the dismissal of Constitutional Court Chair Hrayr Tovmasyan, who had resisted executive pressure. On June 22, 2020, three judges were dismissed (Alvina Gyulumyan, Hrant Nazaryan, Felix Tokhyan) and Tovmasyan was demoted from the chairmanship. Three new judges were elected in September 2020, followed by the election of Arman Dilanyan as Court President/Chair in October 2020. By March 2026, all nine sitting judges on the Constitutional Court had been appointed under the Civil Contract government, ensuring institutional capture. In September 2024, Tovmasyan was convicted of abuse of power in absentia, though the statute of limitations prevented sentencing—a symbolic prosecution that cemented the message that judicial independence would be punished. This sequence shows that Pashinyan’s anti-corruption campaign extended to eliminating an institution that could constrain executive power, replacing judicial independence with executive-aligned judges.

Prosecutions of opposition figures, military officers, and civil society actors have raised concerns about the use of anti-corruption mechanisms as instruments of political control. The detention of Artur Vanetsyan and other opposition figures, along with accusations of torture and coerced confessions, suggest that anti-corruption rhetoric serves broader consolidation of power rather than institutional accountability. Business figures connected to Pashinyan’s inner circle have faced less rigorous scrutiny despite documented wealth accumulation. The Armenian Center for Political Rights and international human rights organizations have documented how selective prosecution, pretrial detention, and scandal narratives can become tools for eliminating institutional independence and neutralizing political rivals.

The absence of genuine anti-corruption reform has allowed oligarchic networks to persist and adapt under new political leadership. State capture by favored business groups, preferential awarding of contracts, and informal power structures tied to Pashinyan’s administration continue to limit economic competition and rule of law. Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan and others have noted that Armenia’s corruption problem cannot be separated from its broader vulnerability as a small state facing military pressure from Azerbaijan and regional isolation. The weaponization of anti-corruption against political opponents has delegitimized reform itself, making it harder for future governments to pursue genuine institutional change without being perceived as continuing a pattern of revenge prosecution.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Corruption.

Regional Fault Lines, Domestic Confrontation | Ep 599, Nov 1, 2026 [EP599]

Posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Iran War Risks and Yemen
Municipal Elections Under Pressure
Parliamentary Brawl and Political Provocation
TRIPP and Constitutional Changes
Strains Between Azerbaijan and Turkey
Armenian Prisoners and Political Will
State Interference in the Church

Episode 599 | Recorded: November 1, 2026

#Armenia #IranWar #ArmenianPolitics #TRIPP #TurkeyAzerbaijan #ArmenianPrisoners #ArmenianChurch

Regional Fault Lines, Domestic Confrontation | Ep 599, Nov 1, 2026 [EP599]

Posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

Iran War Risks and Yemen
Municipal Elections Under Pressure
Parliamentary Brawl and Political Provocation
TRIPP and Constitutional Changes
Strains Between Azerbaijan and Turkey
Armenian Prisoners and Political Will
State Interference in the Church

Episode 599 | Recorded: November 1, 2026

#Armenia #IranWar #ArmenianPolitics #TRIPP #TurkeyAzerbaijan #ArmenianPrisoners #ArmenianChurch

Transcript: Regional Fault Lines, Domestic Confrontation | Ep 599, Nov 1, 2026 [EP599]

Posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this episode of Groong Week in Review for November 1, 2026, we examine regional escalation risks and domestic political turmoil in Armenia. We discuss renewed Iran War threats alongside the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process stalemate, municipal elections under government pressure, parliamentary violence endorsed by leadership, TRIPP and constitutional changes, widening strains between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenian Prisoners of War dossiers, and state interference in the Armenian Church—exposing a government prioritizing domestic confrontation over serious preparation for regional conflict.

Graded F: John Sununu, Republican Senator from New Hampshire [EP598]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Artsakh, Human Rights

Hamparian explains why ANCA gave John Sununu an F: investments in Anglo Asian Mining with rights in ethnically cleansed Artsakh.

Graded F: Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar (D-28) [EP598]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, Artsakh

Hamparian details Henry Cuellar’s F: a federal indictment alleging Azerbaijani bribes and efforts to block the humanitarian demining of Artsakh.

Judge Tano Tijerina vs. Henry Cuellar in South Texas [EP598]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Politics

Hamparian introduces Judge Tano Tijerina, the challenger to indicted and pardoned congressman Henry Cuellar in South Texas.

Armenia on Fire Sale: Land Swaps, COP17, POWs, and the War for Gyumri | Ep 595, Oct 18, 2026 [EP595]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan’s territorial swap proposal with Azerbaijan
COP17 controversies and environmental double standards
UN inaction on Armenian POWs
Inadequate housing aid for Artsakh refugees
Municipal elections and alleged government pressure
Gyumri’s growing role as an opposition stronghold

Episode 595 | Recorded: October 21, 2026

#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Pashinyan #TerritorialSwap #COP17 #ArmenianPOWs #ArtsakhRefugees #Gyumri

Armenia on Fire Sale: Land Swaps, COP17, POWs, and the War for Gyumri | Ep 595, Oct 18, 2026 [EP595]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan’s territorial swap proposal with Azerbaijan
COP17 controversies and environmental double standards
UN inaction on Armenian POWs
Inadequate housing aid for Artsakh refugees
Municipal elections and alleged government pressure
Gyumri’s growing role as an opposition stronghold

Episode 595 | Recorded: October 21, 2026

#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Pashinyan #TerritorialSwap #COP17 #ArmenianPOWs #ArtsakhRefugees #Gyumri

Why Pashinyan Needs Gyumri to Bend the Knee [EP595]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 | Category: Politics, Economy, Armenia

Gyumri’s long neglect since the 1988 earthquake forged a defiant identity that now resists Civil Contract and anchors opposition investment.

Transcript: Armenia on Fire Sale: Land Swaps, COP17, POWs, and the War for Gyumri | Ep 595, Oct 18, 2026 [EP595]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this episode of Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed break down Pashinyan’s territorial swap proposal with Azerbaijan, examining the strategic implications for Armenia’s 29,743 square kilometers and the security of border communities. We discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process, contradictions between government officials on formal negotiations, inadequate housing aid for Artsakh refugees displaced during the ethnic cleansing, UN inaction on Armenian Prisoners of War, and Gyumri’s emergence as an opposition stronghold ahead of municipal elections.

Pashinyan's Nuclear U-Turn and Armenia's Security Failures | Ep 593, Oct 11, 2026 [EP593]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan’s Nuclear Policy U-Turn
Azerbaijani Infiltration Into Shaki
Karapetyan To Unite The Opposition?
COP17 Spending Corruption
Pashinyan’s Broken Environmental Promises

Episode 593 | Recorded: October 13, 2026

#Armenia #Pashinyan #NuclearEnergy #Azerbaijan #NationalSecurity #SamvelKarapetyan #Corruption #Amulsar

Pashinyan's Nuclear U-Turn and Armenia's Security Failures | Ep 593, Oct 11, 2026 [EP593]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

Pashinyan’s Nuclear Policy U-Turn
Azerbaijani Infiltration Into Shaki
Karapetyan To Unite The Opposition?
COP17 Spending Corruption
Pashinyan’s Broken Environmental Promises

Episode 593 | Recorded: October 13, 2026

#Armenia #Pashinyan #NuclearEnergy #Azerbaijan #NationalSecurity #SamvelKarapetyan #Corruption #Amulsar

Save Amulsar: The Forgotten Campaign [EP593]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Politics, Economy, Armenia

A fading Save Amulsar graffiti prompts the hosts to revisit how an environmental cause used for regime change was quietly abandoned.

The Gambling Loophole Enriching Insiders [EP593]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Economy, Politics, Armenia

A gambling ban with an online loophole funneled an industry worth billions to an official’s close benefactor, the hosts explain.

Transcript: Pashinyan's Nuclear U-Turn and Armenia's Security Failures | Ep 593, Oct 11, 2026 [EP593]

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this week’s episode of Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed examine Pashinyan’s abrupt reversal on nuclear energy policy, shifting from Western small modular reactors to consideration of a Russian gigawatt-scale plant amid surging data center demands. We discuss the security implications of long-term energy dependency, the geopolitics behind Armenia’s power infrastructure choices, and ongoing concerns about Azerbaijani infiltration, opposition unity under Samvel Karapetyan, and corruption at COP17.

From Yerablur to Etchmiadzin: Armenia’s Battle Over Memory | Ep 591, Sep 27, 2026 [EP591]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

September 27 war anniversary and memory
Pashinyan escalates campaign against Church
PACE raises concerns over elections
Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan at UNGA
Witkoff reveals Turkish regional advisers
Opposition faces post-election divisions
Arrests and prosecutions over speech
France and Azerbaijan move toward normalization

Episode 591 | Recorded: September 27, 2026

From Yerablur to Etchmiadzin: Armenia’s Battle Over Memory | Ep 591, Sep 27, 2026 [EP591]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

September 27 war anniversary and memory
Pashinyan escalates campaign against Church
PACE raises concerns over elections
Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan at UNGA
Witkoff reveals Turkish regional advisers
Opposition faces post-election divisions
Arrests and prosecutions over speech
France and Azerbaijan move toward normalization

Episode 591 | Recorded: September 27, 2026

Transcript: From Yerablur to Etchmiadzin: Armenia’s Battle Over Memory | Ep 591, Sep 27, 2026 [EP591]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this week’s Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed mark the sixth anniversary of the 44-Day War and examine Armenia’s deepening crisis over historical memory and national identity. We discuss the Armenian government’s controversial response to September 27 commemorations, escalating tension between the state and the Armenian Church, international concern over election integrity, and Armenia’s isolated position as Azerbaijan demolishes Artsakh’s Armenian cultural heritage while Turkey advances regional integration plans.

Dziunik Aghajanian - From Moscow to Riyadh: New Fault Lines Around Armenia | Ep 590, Sep 25, 2026 [EP590]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Russian parliamentary election outcome
Middle East escalation and the Houthis
Armenia-Russia confrontation, including the 102nd base
Asset confiscation, anti-corruption, and Russian interests
Azerbaijan-Armenia “durable peace” tensions
Armenian opposition strategy

Episode 590 | Recorded: September 23, 2026

#Armenia #Russia #SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan #MiddleEast #UkraineWar #ArmenianPolitics #Geopolitics

Dziunik Aghajanian - From Moscow to Riyadh: New Fault Lines Around Armenia | Ep 590, Sep 25, 2026 [EP590]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Russian parliamentary election outcome
Middle East escalation and the Houthis
Armenia-Russia confrontation, including the 102nd base
Asset confiscation, anti-corruption, and Russian interests
Azerbaijan-Armenia “durable peace” tensions
Armenian opposition strategy

Episode 590 | Recorded: September 23, 2026

#Armenia #Russia #SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan #MiddleEast #UkraineWar #ArmenianPolitics #Geopolitics

There Is No Judicial System Left in Armenia [EP590]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2026 | Category: Politics, Human Rights, Armenia

Aghajanian says Armenia has no judicial system left, with 75% of judges appointed by the ruling group and orders coming from above.

Transcript: Dziunik Aghajanian - From Moscow to Riyadh: New Fault Lines Around Armenia | Ep 590, Sep 25, 2026 [EP590]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dziunik Aghajanian about shifting geopolitical pressures on Armenia following Russia’s September 2026 parliamentary elections. We discuss Putin’s strengthened domestic position, the Armenia-Russia confrontation over the 102nd base, asset confiscation and anti-corruption efforts targeting Russian interests, and how Middle East escalation and the Iran War reshape Armenia’s strategic environment amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process tensions.

Arthur Khachatryan - Opposition Strategy, TRIPP, and the Russian Base | Ep 589, Sep 23, 2026 [EP589]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Arthur Khachatryan

Topics:

Reflections on Independence Day
Post-election opposition strategy
Tigranashen and other territorial concessions
Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian heritage
Azerbaijani control over TRIPP access
Future of Russia’s 102nd base
Asset confiscation and Russia tensions
Attacks and threats against the ARF

Episode 589 | Recorded: September 22, 2026

#Armenia #ArthurKhachatryan #ArmeniaAlliance #TRIPP #Tigranashen #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

Arthur Khachatryan - Opposition Strategy, TRIPP, and the Russian Base | Ep 589, Sep 23, 2026 [EP589]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Arthur Khachatryan

Topics:

Reflections on Independence Day
Post-election opposition strategy
Tigranashen and other territorial concessions
Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian heritage
Azerbaijani control over TRIPP access
Future of Russia’s 102nd base
Asset confiscation and Russia tensions
Attacks and threats against the ARF

Episode 589 | Recorded: September 22, 2026

#Armenia #ArthurKhachatryan #ArmeniaAlliance #TRIPP #Tigranashen #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

The $2 Billion Bluff [EP589]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Politics, Economy, Armenia

Khachatryan details how confiscated hotels and villas are resold at deep discounts to Pashinyan-linked buyers while families get nothing.

Armenia at 35: Independence, Loss, and Unfinished Wars | Ep 588, Sep 20, 2026 [EP588]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Armenia marks 35 years independent
Artsakh remembered three years later
Armenian POWs remain in Baku
Ukraine strikes deep inside Russia
Turkey-Azerbaijan deepen strategic coordination
Citizenship costs rise sharply
Government opacity over war casualties

Episode 588 | Recorded: September 22, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #UkraineWar #ArmenianPOWs #Azerbaijan #Turkey #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

Armenia at 35: Independence, Loss, and Unfinished Wars | Ep 588, Sep 20, 2026 [EP588]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

Armenia marks 35 years independent
Artsakh remembered three years later
Armenian POWs remain in Baku
Ukraine strikes deep inside Russia
Turkey-Azerbaijan deepen strategic coordination
Citizenship costs rise sharply
Government opacity over war casualties

Episode 588 | Recorded: September 22, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #UkraineWar #ArmenianPOWs #Azerbaijan #Turkey #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

Jailed, Then a Deal, Then His Case Vanished [EP588]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Politics, Armenia

Hovik recounts how Goris mayor Arush Arushanyan, jailed for protesting Pashinyan, saw his case dropped a week after allying with Civil Contract.

Transcript: Armenia at 35: Independence, Loss, and Unfinished Wars | Ep 588, Sep 20, 2026 [EP588]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this week’s Groong podcast episode, Hovik and Asbed reflect on Armenia’s 35th independence anniversary amid ongoing regional tensions and unresolved conflicts. We discuss the state of Armenian statehood three years after the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Armenian prisoners of war still held in Baku, rising citizenship costs, government opacity over war casualties, and deepening Turkey-Azerbaijan strategic coordination.

Transcript: Arthur Khachatryan - Opposition Strategy, TRIPP, and the Russian Base | Ep 589, Sep 23, 2026 [EP589]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Transcript

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Arthur Khachatryan, MP from Armenia Alliance, about opposition strategy following the June 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We discuss the Established Opposition’s plans to counter Pashinyan’s agenda, territorial concessions including Tigranashen, Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian heritage, the role of TRIPP and Azerbaijan’s control over transit corridors, the future of Russia’s 102nd military base, and escalating threats against opposition parties.

Arrest, No Basis, Release: The Pashinyan Pattern [EP585]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Human Rights, Politics, Armenia

Artsakh analyst Alen Ghevondyan was jailed over Facebook posts, then freed months later as a court dismissed the case. The hosts call it a repeating pattern.

Gandzasar Erasure, Chips for Territory, Russian Money & Pashinyan in Space | Ep 585, Sep 13, 2026 [EP585]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

2022 border war and its legacy
Hajiyev spouts hate, EU reps giggle
Armenia’s muted response to Azerbaijan
TRIPP, NVIDIA chips, and sovereignty
Pashinyan’s Paris space summit visit
Russian money flows through Armenia
Russia-Iran coordination in South Caucasus
Political prosecutions and Grigoryan reshuffle

Episode 585 | Recorded: September 14, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #Gandzasar #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan #Russia #Iran

Gandzasar Erasure, Chips for Territory, Russian Money & Pashinyan in Space | Ep 585, Sep 13, 2026 [EP585]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics

Groong Links:

Topics:

2022 border war and its legacy
Hajiyev spouts hate, EU reps giggle
Armenia’s muted response to Azerbaijan
TRIPP, NVIDIA chips, and sovereignty
Pashinyan’s Paris space summit visit
Russian money flows through Armenia
Russia-Iran coordination in South Caucasus
Political prosecutions and Grigoryan reshuffle

Episode 585 | Recorded: September 14, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #Gandzasar #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan #Russia #Iran

Transcript: Gandzasar Erasure, Chips for Territory, Russian Money & Pashinyan in Space | Ep 585, Sep 13, 2026 [EP585]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Transcript

In this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed examine the fourth anniversary of the September 2022 border war, Azerbaijan’s ongoing occupation of Armenian territory, and Pashinyan’s political trajectory toward recognizing Artsakh’s loss. We discuss Hajiyev’s inflammatory rhetoric, Armenia’s muted diplomatic response, TRIPP and semiconductor sovereignty, Pashinyan’s attendance at a Paris space summit, Russian financial flows through Armenia, and Russia-Iran coordination in the South Caucasus.

Non-Combat Army Deaths Are Climbing After 'Peace' [EP584]

Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Category: Politics, Armenia, Human Rights

Non-combat deaths in Armenia’s army are rising sharply since the declared peace. The hosts detail a case of conscripts run over while forced to jog at night.

Armenia at the SCO Summit as Ukraine and Iran Wars Intensify | Ep 582, Aug 30, 2026 [EP582]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Russia Escalates War Against Ukraine
Unprecedented Western Visits to Moscow
US-Iran War Flares Again
All Artsakh Presidents Behind Bars
Armenia at the SCO Summit
Pashinyan Meets Aliyev, Putin, Modi
Political Persecutions and Selective Justice

Episode 582 | Recorded: September 1, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #UkraineWar #IranWar #SCO #Pashinyan #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

Armenia at the SCO Summit as Ukraine and Iran Wars Intensify | Ep 582, Aug 30, 2026 [EP582]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026

Groong Links:

Topics:

Russia Escalates War Against Ukraine
Unprecedented Western Visits to Moscow
US-Iran War Flares Again
All Artsakh Presidents Behind Bars
Armenia at the SCO Summit
Pashinyan Meets Aliyev, Putin, Modi
Political Persecutions and Selective Justice

Episode 582 | Recorded: September 1, 2026

#Armenia #Artsakh #UkraineWar #IranWar #SCO #Pashinyan #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianPolitics

Armenian Trade with Azerbaijan: $20M Imports, $960 Exports, a One-Sided Illusion [EP582]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 | Category: Economy, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Armenia imports $18-20M in petroleum from Azerbaijan but exports only $960 worth of goods. Hovik reveals the fuel is actually Russian energy white-labeled through Baku, exposing the false ‘peace’ narrative.

No Criminal Charges for School Administrators Who Forced Students to Pashinyan Rallies [EP582]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 | Category: Politics, Human Rights, Armenia

School administrators forced underage students to attend Pashinyan campaign rallies during elections. The government declined to prosecute, issuing only administrative reprimands, a stark contrast to treatment of opposition figures.

Transcript: Armenia at the SCO Summit as Ukraine and Iran Wars Intensify | Ep 582, Aug 30, 2026 [EP582]

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 | Category: Transcript

In this week’s Groong news roundup, Hovik and Asbed examine Armenia’s position at the SCO Summit amid intensifying global conflicts. We discuss Russia’s escalation in Ukraine, unprecedented Western diplomatic visits to Moscow, the renewed US-Iran War, and Pashinyan’s meetings with regional and global leaders including Aliyev and Putin. We also address the ongoing persecution of former Artsakh leaders and the selective justice targeting Armenia’s political landscape.

All Opposition Leaders Under Arrest: Pashinyan's Revenge Politics [EP581]

Posted on Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 | Category: Politics, Human Rights, Armenia

Pashinyan intensifies crackdown against opposition figures post-election. Tsarukyan, Kocharyan, and Karapetyan face arrest and asset seizures as regime consolidates power.

Arthur Martirosyan - The Fourth Republic and the Politics of Erasure | Ep 581, Aug 29, 2026 [EP581]

Posted on Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Pashinyan’s Revenge Against Opposition
Kocharyan Arrested, Family Under State Pressure
Opposition Strategy Under Repression
Pashinyan’s Five-Year Transformation Agenda
Government Assault on Armenian Church
Tigranashen and Border Concessions
TRIPP, Turan, and Central Asia

Episode 581 | Recorded: August 28, 2026

#ArmenianElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #ArmenianOpposition

Arthur Martirosyan - The Fourth Republic and the Politics of Erasure | Ep 581, Aug 29, 2026 [EP581]

Posted on Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics

Groong Links:

Guest(s):

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Pashinyan’s Revenge Against Opposition
Kocharyan Arrested, Family Under State Pressure
Opposition Strategy Under Repression
Pashinyan’s Five-Year Transformation Agenda
Government Assault on Armenian Church
Tigranashen and Border Concessions
TRIPP, Turan, and Central Asia

Episode 581 | Recorded: August 28, 2026

#ArmenianElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #ArmenianOpposition

Transcript: Arthur Martirosyan - The Fourth Republic and the Politics of Erasure | Ep 581, Aug 29, 2026 [EP581]

Posted on Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Transcript

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Arthur G. Martirosyan about Armenia’s post-election political crisis and Pashinyan’s governance agenda. We discuss the arrest of opposition leaders including Robert Kocharyan, attacks on the Armenian Church, border concessions including Tigranashen, the TRIPP corridor, and how the Established Opposition is strategizing under state repression in the Fourth Republic.

Aliyev’s TRIPP, Russia’s Deadline, Iran’s Warning | Ep 578, Aug 16, 2026 [EP578]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

US-Iran War Risks Return
Armenia Faces Regional Spillover Risks
Russia Pressures Armenia Over Western Pivot
TRIPP Deepens Security and Energy Risks
Domestic Politics Grow More Confrontational
Arrests and Prosecutions Fuel Repression Claims

Episode 578 | Recorded: August 17, 2026

#Armenia #IranWar #TRIPP #Syunik #SouthCaucasus #RussiaArmenia #Nakhichevan #ArmenianPolitics

Aliyev’s TRIPP, Russia’s Deadline, Iran’s Warning | Ep 578, Aug 16, 2026 [EP578]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics

Groong Links:

Topics:

US-Iran War Risks Return
Armenia Faces Regional Spillover Risks
Russia Pressures Armenia Over Western Pivot
TRIPP Deepens Security and Energy Risks
Domestic Politics Grow More Confrontational
Arrests and Prosecutions Fuel Repression Claims

Episode 578 | Recorded: August 17, 2026

#Armenia #IranWar #TRIPP #Syunik #SouthCaucasus #RussiaArmenia #Nakhichevan #ArmenianPolitics

Political Prisoners in Armenia: Thousands Hidden in Plain Sight [EP578]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 | Category: Human Rights, Politics, Armenia

Armenia is largely absent from international political prisoner tracking databases despite widespread detention, house arrest, and administrative supervision of opposition figures.

Transcript: Aliyev’s TRIPP, Russia’s Deadline, Iran’s Warning | Ep 578, Aug 16, 2026 [EP578]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Transcript

In this episode of Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discuss Armenia’s precarious position amid escalating Iran War risks, Russia’s December ultimatum on the Eurasian Economic Union, and deepening security threats from TRIPP. We examine how a broader US-Iran conflict could devastate Armenia through refugee flows and logistics collapse, why Pashinyan’s EAEU defiance has triggered Russian pressure, and what frozen CSTO membership actually means for Armenian security.

Corruption and Favoritism: Government Officials' Wives Drawing Massive Salaries Through Rigged Job Contests [EP576]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026 | Category: Politics, Human Rights, Armenia

Hovik and Asbed detail how government officials’ wives are drawing astronomical salaries through rigged job contests while state enterprises decline.

Pashinyan’s Church War, the Russia-EU Choice, and TRIPP | Ep 576, Aug 9, 2026 [EP576]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Alliance
Iran War Update
Catholicos on Trial
EAEU Meeting in Cholpon-Ata
Corruption & Persecutions

Episode 576 | Recorded: August 10, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #ArmenianChurch #GareginII #TRIPP #ArmeniaRussia #SouthCaucasus #Groong

Pashinyan’s Church War, the Russia-EU Choice, and TRIPP | Ep 576, Aug 9, 2026 [EP576]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics

Groong Links:

Topics:

Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Alliance
Iran War Update
Catholicos on Trial
EAEU Meeting in Cholpon-Ata
Corruption & Persecutions

Episode 576 | Recorded: August 10, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #ArmenianChurch #GareginII #TRIPP #ArmeniaRussia #SouthCaucasus #Groong

Transcript: Pashinyan’s Church War, the Russia-EU Choice, and TRIPP | Ep 576, Aug 9, 2026 [EP576]

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Transcript

In this week’s Groong episode, the hosts examine Pashinyan’s confrontation with the Armenian Church, Armenia’s strategic positioning between Russia and the EU, and the geopolitical implications of TRIPP. We discuss the trial of Catholicos Garegin II, Iran’s military leadership realignment, the Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact, and how these shifts reshape Armenia’s role in the South Caucasus.

Konstantin Sokolov, TRIPP+, and the Teghut Mine: A Conflict of Interest [EP568]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026 | Category: USA, Armenia, Economy, Geopolitics

Konstantin Sokolov, a Trump megadonor, was appointed to lead TRIPP+, a U.S. fund managing $200 million in South Caucasus investments, the same week he acquired Armenia’s second-largest copper mine. The hosts examine the conflict of interest.

NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Topics:

NATO summit in Ankara
Iran War Update
Taking Scissors to Armenia
Shaping the Parliament
OSCE vs. Garegin II

Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026

#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE

NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics

Groong Links:

Topics:

NATO summit in Ankara
Iran War Update
Taking Scissors to Armenia
Shaping the Parliament
OSCE vs. Garegin II

Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026

#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE

Transcript: NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 [EP567]

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Transcript

In this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed cover the 36th NATO summit in Ankara, escalating Iran war developments, and Armenia’s removal of murals honoring fallen soldiers. We discuss NATO’s defense spending surge, Trump’s shift on Turkey and F-35 access, Ukraine aid commitments, and what these geopolitical shifts mean for Armenia and the South Caucasus amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations.