Geopolitics

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenia’s Security in Danger
• Munich Security Conference
• Relations with Regional Allies

Episode 310 | Recorded: February 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. David Darchiashvili

Topics:

• Georgia’s search for a modern national identity
• Politics in Context
• EU accession process and outlook
• Armenia-Georgia Strategic Partnership

Episode 308 | Recorded: February 7, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. David Darchiashvili

Topics:

• Georgia’s search for a modern national identity
• Politics in Context
• EU accession process and outlook
• Armenia-Georgia Strategic Partnership

Episode 308 | Recorded: February 7, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

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

Episode 300 | Recorded: December 31, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

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

Episode 300 | Recorded: December 31, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• “No Peace” Treaty Negotiations
  • Turkish-Azeri goal: Demilitarized Armenia (aka Batumi Treaty 2.0)
  • Humiliating Swap of Azeri Criminals for Armenian Hostages
• Aliyev Calls for Snap Elections
• Russia-Armenian Relations
• Russia-Ukraine War

Episode 297 | Recorded: December 10, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• “No Peace” Treaty Negotiations
  • Turkish-Azeri goal: Demilitarized Armenia (aka Batumi Treaty 2.0)
  • Humiliating Swap of Azeri Criminals for Armenian Hostages
• Aliyev Calls for Snap Elections
• Russia-Armenian Relations
• Russia-Ukraine War

Episode 297 | Recorded: December 10, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Armenian Diplomacy in the West
• Relations with Russia

Episode 296 | Recorded: December 3, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Armenian Diplomacy in the West
• Relations with Russia

Episode 296 | Recorded: December 3, 2023

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Flares Up
• The Future of Artsakh and Artsakhtsis
• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations

Episode 284 | Recorded: October 9, 2023

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Flares Up
• The Future of Artsakh and Artsakhtsis
• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations

Episode 284 | Recorded: October 9, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Outstanding Causes of the Conflict
• Why did Aliyev Bail out of Granada?
• Could Azerbaijan Attack Armenia?
• How Might Events Unfold?

Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Outstanding Causes of the Conflict
• Why did Aliyev Bail out of Granada?
• Could Azerbaijan Attack Armenia?
• How Might Events Unfold?

Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh
• Genocide in Progress

Episode 280 | Recorded: Sep 25, 2023

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh
• Genocide in Progress

Episode 280 | Recorded: Sep 25, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Developments in Artsakh
• Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

Episode 278 | Recorded: September 10, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Developments in Artsakh
• Geopolitics in the South Caucasus

Episode 278 | Recorded: September 10, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur Khachikyan

Topics:

• Yerevan Mayoral Elections
• Artsakh Domestic Developments
• Developments in Geopolitics and Negotiations

Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023

Guest:

• Arthur Khachikyan

Topics:

• Yerevan Mayoral Elections
• Artsakh Domestic Developments
• Developments in Geopolitics and Negotiations

Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Day 264 - Ep 276, September 1, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - September 1, 2023

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Arayik Harutyunyan resignation
• Samvel Shahramanyan state minister
• Kirill Kulakov new commander of Russian PKs
• September 2 - 32nd anniversary

Episode 276 | Recorded: September 1, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Day 264 - Ep 276, September 1, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - September 1, 2023

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Arayik Harutyunyan resignation
• Samvel Shahramanyan state minister
• Kirill Kulakov new commander of Russian PKs
• September 2 - 32nd anniversary

Episode 276 | Recorded: September 1, 2023

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• War of Words with Russia
• Iran’s Diplomatic Perspective
• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker

Episode 272 | Recorded: August 7, 2023

Guest:

• Sergei Melkonian

Topics:

• War of Words with Russia
• Iran’s Diplomatic Perspective
• Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker

Episode 272 | Recorded: August 7, 2023

Yerevan Court Freezes Assets of 168.am and Journalist Davit Sargsyan on Tigran Avinyan’s Demand A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan

Topics:

Episode 254 | Recorded on Thursday, May 13 2023

Yerevan Court Freezes Assets of 168.am and Journalist Davit Sargsyan on Tigran Avinyan’s Demand A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan

Topics:

Episode 254 | Recorded on Thursday, May 13 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• What agreements were reached between China and Russia?
• What is the role of India in the new world order?
• Consequence of moving away from a dollar-denominated global economic order?
• China as peacemaker in Ukraine
• China as peacemaker in the Middle East
• China’s role in Iran and South Caucasus
• How should Armenia navigate world order changes?

Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• What agreements were reached between China and Russia?
• What is the role of India in the new world order?
• Consequence of moving away from a dollar-denominated global economic order?
• China as peacemaker in Ukraine
• China as peacemaker in the Middle East
• China’s role in Iran and South Caucasus
• How should Armenia navigate world order changes?

Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023

Guest:

• Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijan Invades, Pashinyan “Explains”
• Armenia at the Democracy Summit
• Armenia and the Rome Statute
• Iran FM in Moscow, Azeri FM in Israel

Episode 242 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Guest:

• Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijan Invades, Pashinyan “Explains”
• Armenia at the Democracy Summit
• Armenia and the Rome Statute
• Iran FM in Moscow, Azeri FM in Israel

Episode 242 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
• East and West
• Armenia and the Rome Statute

Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
• East and West
• Armenia and the Rome Statute

Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 235, Mar 6, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - March 6, 2023

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Attack Kills 3 Artsakh Citizens
• Arayik Harutyunyan rejects Azeri ultimatum, Warns of Further Aggression
• How are people responding?
• About the international response
• Russian peacekeeper report and response
• On the trilateral agreement of Nov. 2020

Episode 235 | Recorded: March 6, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 235, Mar 6, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - March 6, 2023

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Azerbaijan Attack Kills 3 Artsakh Citizens
• Arayik Harutyunyan rejects Azeri ultimatum, Warns of Further Aggression
• How are people responding?
• About the international response
• Russian peacekeeper report and response
• On the trilateral agreement of Nov. 2020

Episode 235 | Recorded: March 6, 2023

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan , founder and a President at the Armenian Center for American Studies, a research center based in Yerevan.

“Pashinyan’s participation in Munich Security Conference didn’t give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan , founder and a President at the Armenian Center for American Studies, a research center based in Yerevan.

“Pashinyan’s participation in Munich Security Conference didn’t give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• 35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement
• Russia Warns the EU and Armenia
• Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue
• Personal topics

Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• 35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement
• Russia Warns the EU and Armenia
• Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue
• Personal topics

Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
  • FM Lavrov’s Interview to Russian Media
  • EU vs CSTO Missions
  • Shifting Public Perceptions
• Political Shuffles in Yerevan

Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

• Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
  • FM Lavrov’s Interview to Russian Media
  • EU vs CSTO Missions
  • Shifting Public Perceptions
• Political Shuffles in Yerevan

Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023

Conversations on Groong - Jan 18, 2023

Guest:

• Rananjay Anand

Topics:

• Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO
• The Indian Community in Armenia
• Where India sees itself on the world stage
• Drivers for Indian-Armenian Relations
• How to improve economic and trade relations
• The Hope & Promise of Indian Armenian Friendship

Episode 209 | Recorded: January 18, 2023

Conversations on Groong - Jan 18, 2023

Guest:

• Rananjay Anand

Topics:

• Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO
• The Indian Community in Armenia
• Where India sees itself on the world stage
• Drivers for Indian-Armenian Relations
• How to improve economic and trade relations
• The Hope & Promise of Indian Armenian Friendship

Episode 209 | Recorded: January 18, 2023

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan , Chairman of the Yerevan based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.

“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 16th day.

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan , Chairman of the Yerevan based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.

“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 16th day.

This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.

“The full state-led attack against Artsakh and Armenia, which no-one in Europe condemned, was a case where the military solution worked. From 2020 onwards, many actors in the world see that you can attack and get away with it.”

Topic:

This is Day 8 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. 120 thousand people are effectively being held hostage by the regime in Baku.

Groong and 168 Hours are continuing our

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.

“The full state-led attack against Artsakh and Armenia, which no-one in Europe condemned, was a case where the military solution worked. From 2020 onwards, many actors in the world see that you can attack and get away with it.”

Topic:

This is Day 8 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. 120 thousand people are effectively being held hostage by the regime in Baku.

Groong and 168 Hours are continuing our

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Lachin Corridor Blockade
• Continuing Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Turkish-Azerbaijani Military Exercises
• Travel Impressions from the region

Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Lachin Corridor Blockade
• Continuing Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
• Turkish-Azerbaijani Military Exercises
• Travel Impressions from the region

Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• How is Armenia’s Economy Doing?
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations
• French Senate Slams Azerbaijani Occupation of Armenia
• The Opposition Returns to Parliament

Episode 179 | Recorded: November 21, 2022

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• How is Armenia’s Economy Doing?
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations
• French Senate Slams Azerbaijani Occupation of Armenia
• The Opposition Returns to Parliament

Episode 179 | Recorded: November 21, 2022

Guest:

• Arthur Khachatryan @Arthur.Khachatryan

Topics:

• Massive Stepanakert Rally
• Sullivan Plan vs. Russian Plan
• Upcoming Protest on November 5

Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022

Guest:

• Arthur Khachatryan @Arthur.Khachatryan

Topics:

• Massive Stepanakert Rally
• Sullivan Plan vs. Russian Plan
• Upcoming Protest on November 5

Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artur Papyan
• Yeghishe Zakunts
• Naira Melikyan

Topics:

• Census in progress in Armenia
• Meetings in Astana
• Developments in Iran
• Armenian websites compromised
• Remembering the TsOR artillery unit

Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022

Guests:

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artur Papyan
• Yeghishe Zakunts
• Naira Melikyan

Topics:

• Census in progress in Armenia
• Meetings in Astana
• Developments in Iran
• Armenian websites compromised
• Remembering the TsOR artillery unit

Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022

Guest:

• Aram Suren Hamparian
• Rouben Galichian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• US-Armenia Relations
• Azerbaijan’s Maps and Claims
• Azerbaijan Continues to Occupy Armenia
• Internal Politics in Armenia

Episode 166 | Recorded: October 1 & 3, 2022

Guest:

• Aram Suren Hamparian
• Rouben Galichian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• US-Armenia Relations
• Azerbaijan’s Maps and Claims
• Azerbaijan Continues to Occupy Armenia
• Internal Politics in Armenia

Episode 166 | Recorded: October 1 & 3, 2022

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

• Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
• What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
• US Armenia Relations
• Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
• Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Suren Sargsyan

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

• Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
• What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
• US Armenia Relations
• Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
• Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Suren Sargsyan

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022

Topics:

• September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
  • September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
• Developments in Geopolitics
  • There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022

Topics:

• September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
  • September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
• Developments in Geopolitics
  • There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:44 Surmalu Blast
  • 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
  • 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
  • 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
  • 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
  • 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
• 21:52 Foreign Relations
  • 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
  • 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
  • 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
  • 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
  • 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
• 53:48 Resistance