Eurasian Economic Union on Groong Podcast

Arthur Khachatryan - Foreign Pressure, Attack on Church, Artsakh Repression | Ep 496, Dec 14, 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:30:00 +0400

In this Week in Review, we examine Armenia’s mounting strategic, political, and economic pressures. The discussion focuses on Pashinyan’s dual-track signaling toward the EU and Russia, rising tensions with the Armenian Apostolic Church, renewed controversies around Artsakh and the right of return, NSS raids on Artsakh institutions in Yerevan, and troubling indicators from Armenia’s 2025 economic performance, including declining trade, underexecuted capital spending, and rising state debt.

Main Topics Addressed

Armenia Between the West and Russia

Pashinyan’s official visit to Germany followed by a working visit to Russia for the EAEU Intergovernmental Council
Western framing of peace, EU alignment, and transport corridors as a single package
Public signaling toward EU membership while remaining inside the EAEU
Russia’s growing unease over Armenia’s strategic ambiguity

EU Engagement and Informal Pressure

Pashinyan’s statement that EU membership is a goal, even if leaving the EAEU is not
Ararat Mirzoyan’s informal participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels
Reports that Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary elections were discussed during an informal EU breakfast
Questions around EU expectations, including sanctions on Russia

Church–State Confrontation

Pashinyan’s shifting justifications for confronting the Armenian Apostolic Church
Proposal for Catholicos Garegin II’s resignation and appointment of a caretaker vicar
Government-driven canon law reform, clergy vetting, and political restrictions
Constitutional implications of state interference in church affairs

Artsakh, Concessions, and Right of Return

Post-2020 and post-2023 concessions culminating in the loss of Artsakh
Azerbaijan’s demand for the “return” of 1990s Azerbaijani refugees to Armenia
Armenia’s effective closure of the Artsakh Armenians’ right of return
Pashinyan’s proposal to drop Artsakh return claims in exchange for Azerbaijan abandoning the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative

NSS Raids on Artsakh Institutions

Raids on Artsakh offices in Yerevan without detailed public justification
Timing coinciding with renewed advocacy for Artsakh Armenians’ rights
Broader concerns about rule of law and political pressure

Armenia’s Economy in 2025

Sharp decline in trade and reexports with Russia
Severe underperformance in capital expenditures, including defense, schools, roads, and infrastructure
Rising state debt exceeding $14 billion
Weak execution across multiple strategic development programs

Key Questions Discussed

Can Armenia realistically pursue EU membership while remaining in the EAEU?
What does the EU expect from Armenia in return for political and electoral support?
Are sanctions on Russia under serious consideration in Yerevan?
What constitutional limits exist on government intervention in church affairs?
Can the rights of displaced Artsakh Armenians be negotiated away?
Do NSS raids signal a breakdown in rule of law?
Why are economic failures and rising debt not central to political debate ahead of elections?

Thoughts from the Participants

Arthur Khachatryan: Structural weaknesses of the opposition and the cult-like dynamics of Pashinyan’s political system.
Hovik Manucharyan: Reflections on Mikayel Minasyan’s recent Facebook post and its broader political implications.

Referenced Articles & Sources

Pashinyan visit to Germany https://www.primeminister.am/en/foreign-visits/item/2025/12/09/Nikol-Pashinyan-visiting-Germany/

Arthur Khachatryan - Foreign Pressure, Attack on Church, Artsakh Repression | Ep 496, Dec 14, 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:30:00 +0400

Episode Summary

Go to Episode Notes

Pascal Lottaz - Neutrality Studies, Armenia and the Incoming Multipolar World | Ep 367 - Sep 23, 2024

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0400

Neutrality in a Multipolar World

Neutrality Studies

Since this is your first time with us, would you tell us about yourself, and the interests that have led you to the formal study of the concept of “Neutrality”?

Your university in Japan, University of Kyoto, seems to be one of the few places around the world that has a formal neutrality studies program.

Question:

What is neutrality and what is the theoretical basis for Neutrality Studies?
- When was the term introduced or coined?

Let’s relate to an old saying attributed to Edmond Burke, that “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing”.

Pascal Lottaz - Neutrality Studies, Armenia and the Incoming Multipolar World | Ep 367 - Sep 23, 2024

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0400

Episode Summary

What is Neutrality Studies? Rise of the Multi-Polar World.

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Tatul Manaseryan: Armenia's Economic Diversification | Corruption | Bank Secrecy | Ep 319 - Mar 23, 2024

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 08:48:51 +0400

Tatul Manaseryan on Economic Topics

Before we get started, we’d like to remind you to support us and help us expand our reach. First, you can share this link with your friends and if you feel extra generous please go to our donate page, podcasts.groong.org / donate. Thanks in advance!

Dr. Manaseryan, as this is your first time on our show, would you tell us about yourself, so that our listeners may get to know you a little bit?

Tatul Manaseryan: Armenia's Economic Diversification | Corruption | Bank Secrecy | Ep 319 - Mar 23, 2024

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 08:48:51 +0400

Episode Summary

Economic Diversification. Systemic Corruption. Bank Secrecy Scrapped.

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Transcript: Russian Warnings: Assessing Armenia's Geopolitical Choices

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 23:00:00 +0400

On February 24, a group of Russian and Armenian experts met in Congress hotel in Yerevan to discuss the state of Armenia-Russia relations. The discussion was friendly but tough and frank.

Our guest from episode #311 was one of the participants in that discussion.

Full Episode: https://youtu.be/GlPVBFSZwT8?si=vopKrkHXQm2Qq-KQ
Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/groong
Support Us Here: https://podcasts.groong.org/donate

Listen to the segment and/or read the transcript below.

Transcript

Hovik: On Saturday, February 24, there was a major discussion between Russian and Armenian experts on the state of relations between the two countries.

Benyamin Poghosyan - Shahramanyan Annuls Artsakh Dissolution | Insecurity without Borders | Pashinyan in St. Petersburgh | Year-end Predictions | Ep 300, Dec 31, 2023

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:15:00 -0400

Artsakh President Annuls Dissolution of Republic

Three months after Azerbaijan’s invasion of Artsakh Republic and eviction of its remaining 100,000 population, president-in-exile Samvel Shahramanyan has allegedly annulled his declaration of dissolving the republic on January 1, 2024, which he had made under duress, to save more civilians from brutal torture and murder.

There are a number of serious caveats to this story:

First, the original document claiming to be that of dissolution of Artsakh has never been officially published, Shahramanyan made the declaration in the middle of a brutal invasion and with hundreds of Armenians being killed.
Even if this document was indeed what it is purported to be, legal analysts claim that it is invalid, since besides being made under duress, the executive branch cannot legally make a decision to dissolve all other branches of government and terminate a country like it’s a defunct business.
The news about the annulment comes from his adviser, Vladimir Grigoryan and not Shahramanyan himself. The following day, Grigoryan issued a statement indicating that what he said previously was his own personal opinion, and by the way, he is no longer Shahramanyan’s adviser. Many speculate that this was a result of the strong backlash from Civil Contract reps, which we’ll talk about below.

Questions:

Benyamin Poghosyan - Shahramanyan Annuls Artsakh Dissolution | Insecurity without Borders | Pashinyan in St. Petersburgh | Year-end Predictions | Ep 300, Dec 31, 2023

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:15:00 -0400

Episode Summary

Artsakh President Annuls Dissolution of Republic. Insecurity without Borders. Pashinyan in St. Petersburg. Year-end 2023 Predictions Review. Predictions for 2024.

Go to Episode Notes