This Week in Review examines the tightening political climate in Armenia ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Asbed and Hovik discuss Marco Rubio’s sudden Armenia visit, new polling from IRI, MPG, and CAEAC, and what the wide gaps in voter disclosure may reveal about hidden opposition support. The episode also covers TRIPP, “Western Azerbaijan” rhetoric, public trust in the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the growing use of arrests, threats, and state pressure against opposition figures. The discussion centers on Pashinyan’s escalating campaign rhetoric, including his “Why are you alive?” outburst, and what it signals about the stakes of the coming election.
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
- Armenia-Russia Relations
- Parliamentary Elections in Armenia
Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026
#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
- Armenia-Russia Relations
- Parliamentary Elections in Armenia
Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026
#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP
Dr. Pietro Shakarian joined us to discuss the state of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, the shrinking chances for a diplomatic off-ramp, and how the conflict is shifting wider Eurasian politics. The conversation then turned to Armenia, including the likely freezing of TRIPP amid the Iran war, Pashinyan’s contentious visit to Moscow, and the deeper low point in Armenia-Russia relations. The final section focused on Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, public sentiment toward Pashinyan, fears over election integrity, and the evolving opposition landscape.
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Georgian Patriarch Ilia II passes away
- Karekin II travel banned from funeral
- Iran war update
- June election in Armenia
Episode 527 | Recorded: March 23, 2026
#Groong #Armenia
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Georgian Patriarch Ilia II passes away
- Karekin II travel banned from funeral
- Iran war update
- June election in Armenia
Episode 527 | Recorded: March 23, 2026
#Groong #Armenia
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Memorial Day vs. Army Day
- JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Armenian Church Developments
- Strong Armenia - New Political Party
Episode 510 | Recorded: Jnauary 27, 2026
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Memorial Day vs. Army Day
- JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Armenian Church Developments
- Strong Armenia - New Political Party
Episode 510 | Recorded: Jnauary 27, 2026
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Return of Four Hostages
- Pashinyan vs. Church
- TRIPP
- Armenia Parliamentary Election
Episode 507 | Recorded: January 16, 2026
#AnnaGrigoryan #Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #TRIPP #ArmenianChurch #POWs
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Return of Four Hostages
- Pashinyan vs. Church
- TRIPP
- Armenia Parliamentary Election
Episode 507 | Recorded: January 16, 2026
#AnnaGrigoryan #Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #TRIPP #ArmenianChurch #POWs
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- The Legal Architecture: Autonomy, Exclusive Mission, and State Neutrality
- Engineering Parallel, Schismatic Structures
- Criminal Law as Leverage
- Bern in Action and Reaction
- The Deeper Stakes: National Identity
Episode 504 | Recorded: January 12, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianChurch #Etchmiadzin #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- The Legal Architecture: Autonomy, Exclusive Mission, and State Neutrality
- Engineering Parallel, Schismatic Structures
- Criminal Law as Leverage
- Bern in Action and Reaction
- The Deeper Stakes: National Identity
Episode 504 | Recorded: January 12, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianChurch #Etchmiadzin #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Pashinyan Attacks: Geopolitics or Vendetta?
- Renegade Bishops: Demands and Narratives
- Stolen Church Property
- From Christmas to Easter
Episode 503 | Recorded: January 9, 2026
#ArmenianApostolicChurch #ArmenianChurch #Garegin #Catholicos #NikolPashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Pashinyan Attacks: Geopolitics or Vendetta?
- Renegade Bishops: Demands and Narratives
- Stolen Church Property
- From Christmas to Easter
Episode 503 | Recorded: January 9, 2026
#ArmenianApostolicChurch #ArmenianChurch #Garegin #Catholicos #NikolPashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Developments in Venezuela
- Attacks on Armenian Church Continue
- New MPG Poll Results
Episode 501 | Recorded: January 6, 2026
#VenezuelaCrisis #ArmenianChurch #MPGPoll #ArmeniaEconomy #Geopolitics
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Developments in Venezuela
- Attacks on Armenian Church Continue
- New MPG Poll Results
Episode 501 | Recorded: January 6, 2026
#VenezuelaCrisis #ArmenianChurch #MPGPoll #ArmeniaEconomy #Geopolitics
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia between EU and Russia
- Churchâstate confrontation in Armenia
- Artsakh concessions and return debate
- Economy, debt, and governance
- NSS raids Artsakh offices
Episode 496 | Recorded: December 15, 2025
#ArmeniaPolitics #EUvsRussia #ArmenianChurch #Artsakh #Geopolitics
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia between EU and Russia
- Churchâstate confrontation in Armenia
- Artsakh concessions and return debate
- Economy, debt, and governance
- NSS raids Artsakh offices
Episode 496 | Recorded: December 15, 2025
#ArmeniaPolitics #EUvsRussia #ArmenianChurch #Artsakh #Geopolitics
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- 1988 Earthquake Remembered
- Pashinyanâs War on the Armenian Church
- EU-Armenia Relations
- Nagorno-Karabakh Negotiation Documents
- ARAR Foundation Poll
Episode 494 | Recorded: December 8, 2025
#ArmenianChurch #NSS #Pashinyan #ArarPoll #ArmeniaEU
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- 1988 Earthquake Remembered
- Pashinyanâs War on the Armenian Church
- EU-Armenia Relations
- Nagorno-Karabakh Negotiation Documents
- ARAR Foundation Poll
Episode 494 | Recorded: December 8, 2025
#ArmenianChurch #NSS #Pashinyan #ArarPoll #ArmeniaEU
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- OSCE MG Dissolved
- Libaridian on Submitting to Turkey and Azerbaijan
- News Constitution to be Drafted by March 2026
- Archbishops, Letters, Attacks on the Church
- Border Commissions Meet in Baku
- Comments from Jacob Pursley
Episode 493 | Recorded: December 2, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- OSCE MG Dissolved
- Libaridian on Submitting to Turkey and Azerbaijan
- News Constitution to be Drafted by March 2026
- Archbishops, Letters, Attacks on the Church
- Border Commissions Meet in Baku
- Comments from Jacob Pursley
Episode 493 | Recorded: December 2, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
- Pre-trial detention practices
- Lawfare and double standards
- Armeniaâs global consequences
Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
- Pre-trial detention practices
- Lawfare and double standards
- Armeniaâs global consequences
Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Imprisonment and Political Persecution
- International and Diaspora Response
- Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
- The Managed Capitulation Process
Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Imprisonment and Political Persecution
- International and Diaspora Response
- Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
- The Managed Capitulation Process
Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church
- Indian-Armenian Relations
- NGOs and Foreign Influence
- U.S. Geopolitics and the Trump Corridor
Episode 462 | Recorded: August 15, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church
- Indian-Armenian Relations
- NGOs and Foreign Influence
- U.S. Geopolitics and the Trump Corridor
Episode 462 | Recorded: August 15, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Artsakh Negotiations
- Armenian Domestic Politics
Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Artsakh Negotiations
- Armenian Domestic Politics
Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Iran War
- Iran-Azerbaijan Relations
- Russian-Azerbaijani Tensions
- Russian-Armenian Relations
- Persecution of The Church Continues
- Kaja Kallas in Armenia
- OIC Declaration
Episode 451 | Recorded: June 30, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Iran War
- Iran-Azerbaijan Relations
- Russian-Azerbaijani Tensions
- Russian-Armenian Relations
- Persecution of The Church Continues
- Kaja Kallas in Armenia
- OIC Declaration
Episode 451 | Recorded: June 30, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
- Hakan Fidan in Moscow
- Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
- Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
- Impeachment vs. Elections
- The Kitchen Sink
Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
- Hakan Fidan in Moscow
- Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
- Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
- Impeachment vs. Elections
- The Kitchen Sink
Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topic:
- Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
- Ukraine War, NATO, China
- Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran
Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topic:
- Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
- Ukraine War, NATO, China
- Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran
Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Heavy Rainstorms Flood Northern Armenia
- Bagrat Srbazan Movement
- Geopolitical Developments
- Rights and Security for Artsakh Armenians
Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Heavy Rainstorms Flood Northern Armenia
- Bagrat Srbazan Movement
- Geopolitical Developments
- Rights and Security for Artsakh Armenians
Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- âForced Illusion of Normalcyâ
- Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
- Negotiations and âPeace Treatyâ
- Armeniaâs Military Capacity
- What Need to be Done?
- Thoughts from the Participants
Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- âForced Illusion of Normalcyâ
- Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
- Negotiations and âPeace Treatyâ
- Armeniaâs Military Capacity
- What Need to be Done?
- Thoughts from the Participants
Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Public TV Cancels Catholicos New Yearâs Address
- Governor Hunting Season
- âZangezur corridorâ redux; âPeace treatyâ
- Thoughts from the Participants
- Podcasts, labels, and language of division
Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Public TV Cancels Catholicos New Yearâs Address
- Governor Hunting Season
- âZangezur corridorâ redux; âPeace treatyâ
- Thoughts from the Participants
- Podcasts, labels, and language of division
Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023