Human Rights

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Human rights issues run through nearly every dimension of the South Caucasus conflicts that Groong covers. Nearly 100 episodes address human rights questions directly, from the treatment of Armenian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan to the ethnic cleansing of more than 150,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2023.

Coverage spans a wide range of subjects: the documentation of war crimes during the 2020 and 2023 conflicts, Azerbaijan’s track record on political prisoners and press freedom, the human rights situation inside Armenia, the rights of Armenian diaspora communities, and the work of international bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights in cases brought by Armenia and individual Armenians against Azerbaijan.

Guest:

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:

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

Guests:

Topics:

  • Azerbaijani Aggression
  • Russia and CSTO
  • UN & International Reaction
  • War Communications (with Karen Vrtanesyan)
  • Nancy Pelosi’s Visit (with Suren Sargsyan)

Episode 165 | Recorded: Sunday, September 18, 2022

Guests:

Topics:

  • Azerbaijani Aggression
  • Russia and CSTO
  • UN & International Reaction
  • War Communications (with Karen Vrtanesyan)
  • Nancy Pelosi’s Visit (with Suren Sargsyan)

Episode 165 | Recorded: Sunday, September 18, 2022

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
 Read More

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
 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong - August 23, 2022

On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed Armenia as independent.

True, Armenia officially celebrates independence day on September 21, due to the referendum which was held on Sep 21 1991, the following year. But for me, the date of August 23 - the date of the proclamation of the declaration of independence - is no less special.

For it is this document comprised of 12 articles that form the basis for all laws in Armenia and for the constitution itself. From the need to establish historic justice,

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Armenian News Network/Groong - August 23, 2022

On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed Armenia as independent.

True, Armenia officially celebrates independence day on September 21, due to the referendum which was held on Sep 21 1991, the following year. But for me, the date of August 23 - the date of the proclamation of the declaration of independence - is no less special.

For it is this document comprised of 12 articles that form the basis for all laws in Armenia and for the constitution itself. From the need to establish historic justice,

 Read More

Talking with Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte | Ep 153 - August 11, 2022

  • Growing up Armenian in Azerbaijan
  • Experiencing Armenia as an Armenian from Azerbaijan
  • Advocating for Armenian Families and Children
  • Thoughts on the condition of Artsakh, and Armenia
  • The projects in progress at Astvatsaturian.org, Anna’s 501c3 charity organization.

Guest:

  • Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an Armenian-American author, city counselor, human rights advocate, and also a refugee from her original city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which her family fled, as violence mounted against Armenians.
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