Ilham Aliyev
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Ilham Aliyev has led Azerbaijan since succeeding his father Heydar Aliyev in 2003, consolidating an authoritarian system built on hydrocarbon wealth and a foreign policy defined by strategic patience and the eventual use of force in the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. Aliyev is one of the most frequently discussed figures in Groong’s coverage, appearing across more than 200 episodes.
The two defining events of Aliyev’s tenure in Groong’s coverage are the 44-Day War of 2020 and Azerbaijan’s military offensive of September 2023. The 2020 war — launched with Turkish military support — ended with Armenia’s defeat and the Russian-brokered ceasefire of November 9. Aliyev then used the three-year interregnum to progressively squeeze the remaining Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin Corridor blockade before the September 2023 offensive that expelled the entire Armenian population of Artsakh — what international human rights organizations have characterized as ethnic cleansing.
In Groong’s analysis, Aliyev’s post-2023 posture has continued to pressure Armenia on multiple fronts: demanding constitutional changes, pursuing the Zangezur Corridor through Syunik , and keeping Armenian prisoners of war — including former Artsakh leaders — in Azerbaijani detention. Episodes also examine Aliyev’s foreign policy relationships: his alliance with Turkey, Azerbaijan’s growing ties with Israel and other arms suppliers, his use of energy leverage over Europe, Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in Baku in 2024, and Baku’s uneasy balance between Russia and the West.
Groong episodes covering Aliyev address the state of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process , the human rights situation inside Azerbaijan, and the broader implications of Azerbaijani regional ambitions for Armenian security.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Ilham Aliyev.
Aram Hamparian - Don't Get an F in Armenian Affairs! ANCA's 2026 Report Cards | Ep 598, Oct 28, 2026 [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, United States, Diaspora, Elections | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- ANCA’s 2026 Congressional Report Cards
- The 12 Congressional F Grades
- Abe Hamadeh, TRIPP, and Armenian Interests
- Azerbaijani Influence on Capitol Hill
- Armenian-American Allies in Congress
- Key Races in the 2026 Midterms
Episode 598 | Recorded: October 27, 2026
#ANCA #ArmenianAmerican #USMidterms2026 #Congress #ArmenianAffairs #ArmenianAdvocacy #AzerbaijanLobby
Aram Hamparian - Don't Get an F in Armenian Affairs! ANCA's 2026 Report Cards | Ep 598, Oct 28, 2026 [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, United States, Diaspora, ElectionsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- ANCA’s 2026 Congressional Report Cards
- The 12 Congressional F Grades
- Abe Hamadeh, TRIPP, and Armenian Interests
- Azerbaijani Influence on Capitol Hill
- Armenian-American Allies in Congress
- Key Races in the 2026 Midterms
Episode 598 | Recorded: October 27, 2026
#ANCA #ArmenianAmerican #USMidterms2026 #Congress #ArmenianAffairs #ArmenianAdvocacy #AzerbaijanLobby
Graded F: Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-08) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, PoliticsHamparian explains Abe Hamadeh’s F: co-sponsoring the repeal of Section 907 and advocating a peace deal that rewards Azerbaijan.
Graded F: Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-13) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, PoliticsHamparian on Anna Paulina Luna’s F: she authored legislation to eliminate Section 907 and strike all U.S. scrutiny of Azerbaijan.
Graded F: Florida Rep. Randy Fine (R-06) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Politics, Human RightsHamparian lays out Randy Fine’s F: co-sponsoring repeal of Section 907 and saying Armenians should not run for Congress.
Graded F: John Sununu, Republican Senator from New Hampshire [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Artsakh, Human RightsHamparian explains why ANCA gave John Sununu an F: investments in Anglo Asian Mining with rights in ethnically cleansed Artsakh.
Graded F: Maloy & Owens (Utah), Van Orden (Wisconsin) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, PoliticsHamparian on three F grades: Utah’s Maloy and Owens and Wisconsin’s Van Orden co-sponsored the Section 907 repeal and refused to withdraw.
Graded F: Republican Pete Sessions (R-17) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, PoliticsHamparian on Pete Sessions’ F: a reliable backer of pro-Turkish and pro-Azeri anti-Armenian initiatives across the board.
Graded F: South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson (R-02) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, Human RightsHamparian on Joe Wilson’s F: a professed defender of persecuted Christians who acts as a mouthpiece for Azerbaijan.
Graded F: Tennessee Democrat Stephen Cohen (D-09) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, PoliticsHamparian on Steve Cohen’s F and his coming exit: once threw an Armenian American reporter out of his house, now retiring amid redistricting.
Graded F: Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar (D-28) [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: USA, Azerbaijan, ArtsakhHamparian details Henry Cuellar’s F: a federal indictment alleging Azerbaijani bribes and efforts to block the humanitarian demining of Artsakh.
Transcript: Aram Hamparian - Don't Get an F in Armenian Affairs! ANCA's 2026 Report Cards | Ep 598, Oct 28, 2026 [EP598]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, United States, Diaspora, Elections, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA, about the 2026 US midterm elections and Armenian-American advocacy on Capitol Hill. We discuss the Armenian National Committee’s congressional report cards, the twelve lawmakers receiving F grades for their positions on Armenian interests, and how Azerbaijani influence shapes votes in Congress. Hamparian breaks down key races and the stakes for Armenian diaspora engagement in American politics.
Armenia Votes, Opposition Jailed: Pashinyan's Democracy | Ep 597, Oct 25, 2026 [EP597]
Posted on Monday, Oct 26, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Municipal elections and one-party dominance
- Opposition arrests ahead of Stepanavan elections
- Pashinyan’s threats of snap elections
- Constitutional changes and Azerbaijani demands
- Can elections bring political change?
- Government bonuses, cronyism, and accountability
- Remembering Rita Vorperian and Osheen Keshishian
Episode 597 | Recorded: October 25, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #NikolPashinyan #ArmenianElections #OppositionCrackdown #SnapElections #ConstitutionalReform #DemocracyUnderThreat
Armenia Votes, Opposition Jailed: Pashinyan's Democracy | Ep 597, Oct 25, 2026 [EP597]
Posted on Monday, Oct 26, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, GeopoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Municipal elections and one-party dominance
- Opposition arrests ahead of Stepanavan elections
- Pashinyan’s threats of snap elections
- Constitutional changes and Azerbaijani demands
- Can elections bring political change?
- Government bonuses, cronyism, and accountability
- Remembering Rita Vorperian and Osheen Keshishian
Episode 597 | Recorded: October 25, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #NikolPashinyan #ArmenianElections #OppositionCrackdown #SnapElections #ConstitutionalReform #DemocracyUnderThreat
Transcript: Armenia Votes, Opposition Jailed: Pashinyan's Democracy | Ep 597, Oct 25, 2026 [EP597]
Posted on Monday, Oct 26, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, TranscriptIn this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed break down Armenia’s October 25, 2026 municipal elections and the stark reality of one-party rule under Pashinyan. We discuss administrative pressure, opposition arrests in Stepanavan, jailed candidates, and coerced party defections—exposing how Civil Contract dominates through control of police and judiciary rather than genuine democratic competition. We also examine Pashinyan’s threats of snap elections, constitutional changes responsive to Azerbaijani demands, and whether electoral politics can still deliver political change in Armenia.
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, GeopoliticsGroong 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
Is Every Square Inch of Armenia Equal? [EP595]
Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Politics, ArmeniaThe hosts explain why Tigranashen, Armenia’s road artery to Iran, is not an equal trade for the Artsvashen enclave.
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, TranscriptIn 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.
COP17 Is PR, Not National Interest [EP594]
Posted on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 | Category: Politics, Armenia, MediaMartirosyan calls Armenia’s COP17 hosting mostly PR, benefiting hoteliers and Pashinyan’s image more than national interests.
There Is No Peace Without Justice [EP594]
Posted on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 | Category: Politics, Azerbaijan, ArmeniaMartirosyan argues a settlement built on one side’s wrongdoing cannot hold, and that Pashinyan’s version of peace is unilateral concession.
You Can Win Without Firing a Shot [EP594]
Posted on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, PoliticsMartirosyan explains how Aliyev extracts concessions by threatening war, especially when Armenia’s leadership primes its own public to concede.
Concessions Without Peace [EP593]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Politics, Azerbaijan, ArmeniaArmenia says raising Azerbaijani forest destruction at the COP17 biodiversity summit it hosts would violate the presidency’s principles.
Shot Defending Her Children in Shaki [EP593]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Human RightsAn armed Azerbaijani soldier traveled 20 km into Armenia and shot a mother in her own home as she tried to defend her children in Shaki.
Trump Offered to Call Aliyev About Armenian Prisoners [EP592]
Posted on Friday, Oct 2, 2026 | Category: Politics, Human Rights, USASassounian says Trump offered to call Aliyev to free Armenian prisoners in Baku, and Pashinyan never took him up on it.
France Freed Its Hostage. What About Ours? [EP591]
Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Human Rights, AzerbaijanFrance helped lift EU sanctions on a Russian billionaire the same day Azerbaijan pardoned a French prisoner, while Armenian hostages stay in Baku.
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):
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
Read MoreArthur Khachatryan - Opposition Strategy, TRIPP, and the Russian Base | Ep 589, Sep 23, 2026 [EP589]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026Groong Links:
Guest(s):
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
Read MoreCan an Armenian Even Use TRIPP [EP589]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Armenia, AzerbaijanHovik asks a simple question about TRIPP that no one will answer: can an Armenian board a train in one village and get off in the next?
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, GeopoliticsGroong 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
The Turkey-Azerbaijan Alliance Armenia Held Off for 26 Years [EP588]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 | Category: Geopolitics, Turkey, AzerbaijanHovik argues the Turkey-Azerbaijan bond is uniquely strong and that Armenia kept Turkey out of the conflict for 26 years until Pashinyan.
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, TranscriptIn 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: TranscriptIn 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.
Azerbaijan Mocks Armenian Manuscript With Blank Pages [EP585]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Artsakh, Culture, AzerbaijanAt Gandzasar, an Azerbaijani official held up a blank-paged replica of an Armenian manuscript and called it empty, as European diplomats smiled.
France Launched Azerbaijan's Satellites, Used Against Armenia [EP585]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Politics, Technology, AzerbaijanAs Pashinyan attends a Paris space summit, Hovik notes France helped build and launch Azerbaijan’s satellites, later used against Armenia in war.
The EU's 'Diverging Narratives' Is Both-Sides-ism [EP585]
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2026 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, European UnionEU Special Representative Magdalena Grono called the Gandzasar dispute a matter of “deeply diverging views and narratives.” The hosts call it false equivalence.
Artsakh Remembered, SCO Theater, Russian Signals, and the Cucumber Paradox | Ep 584, Sep 6, 2026 [EP584]
Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Artsakh remembered, its cause unresolved
- Putin puts Russia’s military base on the table
- Church prosecutions begin to unravel
- EU trade headlines look better than the deal
- Army indiscipline fuels mounting non-combat deaths
- New political pressures before local elections
Episode 584 | Recorded: Sep 6, 2026
#Artsakh #Armenia #NagornoKarabakh #SouthCaucasus #SCO #Russia #EuropeanUnion #ArmenianPolitics
Artsakh Remembered, SCO Theater, Russian Signals, and the Cucumber Paradox | Ep 584, Sep 6, 2026 [EP584]
Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2026Groong Links:
Topics:
- Artsakh remembered, its cause unresolved
- Putin puts Russia’s military base on the table
- Church prosecutions begin to unravel
- EU trade headlines look better than the deal
- Army indiscipline fuels mounting non-combat deaths
- New political pressures before local elections
Episode 584 | Recorded: Sep 6, 2026
#Artsakh #Armenia #NagornoKarabakh #SouthCaucasus #SCO #Russia #EuropeanUnion #ArmenianPolitics
The NSC Chief Who Once Called Concessions 'Betrayal' [EP584]
Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Category: Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, ArmeniaThe hosts read Arman Grigoryan’s 2012 words calling concessions to Azerbaijan a betrayal, then reveal he was born in Martuni, Artsakh.
Transcript: Artsakh Remembered, SCO Theater, Russian Signals, and the Cucumber Paradox | Ep 584, Sep 6, 2026 [EP584]
Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Category: TranscriptIn this week’s Groong episode, Hovik and Asbed review September 2026 developments across Armenia and the South Caucasus. We examine Artsakh’s remembered independence declaration on September 2, 1991, and its unresolved cause following the 2023 ethnic cleansing; Putin’s signaling on Russia’s military base presence; ongoing Armenian Church prosecutions; EU trade negotiations; mounting non-combat military deaths; and political pressures ahead of local elections. We also analyze U.S. envoy Witkoff and Kushner’s diplomatic shuttle through Moscow and Kyiv.
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, 2026Groong 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
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: TranscriptIn 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.
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):
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, PoliticsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
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, TranscriptIn 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.
Dziunik Aghajanian - Armenia Between Iran, Russia & the New Middle East Order | Ep 579, Aug 22, 2026 [EP579]
Posted on Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Significance of the Mecca joint defense pact
- Iran warns Armenia over TRIPP
- Aliyev advances plans through Syunik
- Armenia faces growing energy dependence
- Russia sets deadlines for Yerevan
- Opposition tests its parliamentary strategy
Episode 579 | Recorded: August 18, 2026
#Armenia #SouthCaucasus #Mecca #TRIPP #Iran #Russia #Azerbaijan #EAEU #CSTO
Dziunik Aghajanian - Armenia Between Iran, Russia & the New Middle East Order | Ep 579, Aug 22, 2026 [EP579]
Posted on Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, GeopoliticsGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Significance of the Mecca joint defense pact
- Iran warns Armenia over TRIPP
- Aliyev advances plans through Syunik
- Armenia faces growing energy dependence
- Russia sets deadlines for Yerevan
- Opposition tests its parliamentary strategy
Episode 579 | Recorded: August 18, 2026
#Armenia #SouthCaucasus #Mecca #TRIPP #Iran #Russia #Azerbaijan #EAEU #CSTO
Transcript: Dziunik Aghajanian - Armenia Between Iran, Russia & the New Middle East Order | Ep 579, Aug 22, 2026 [EP579]
Posted on Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dziunik Aghajanian about Armenia’s precarious position between Iran, Russia, and emerging Middle East power shifts. We discuss the Mecca joint defense pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s warnings over TRIPP, Ilham Aliyev’s militarization plans in Nakhijevan, Armenia’s growing energy dependence, Russian deadlines for Yerevan, and how the Established Opposition is testing its parliamentary strategy ahead of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.
Aliyev's TRIPP Play: Azerbaijani Teams Scoping Syunik, Threatening Armenian Nuclear Power [EP578]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 | Category: Azerbaijan, Geopolitics, ArmeniaAliyev revealed that Azerbaijani technical teams have surveyed transmission line routes through Syunik for TRIPP, and he is now signaling that Armenia’s nuclear power plant could become a future demand.
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, PoliticsGroong 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
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, TranscriptIn 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.
Hovik on Tigranashen Handover: Clear as Day [EP574]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 | Category: Politics, Armenia, GeopoliticsHovik Manucharyan argues that Pashinyan has already agreed to hand over Tigranashen and is executing a piecemeal territorial surrender strategy, bypassing Soviet-era border protocols.
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Erasing memory across Yerevan
- Great Purge in Soviet Armenia
- Khanjyan’s assassination and Beria
- Repression of Armenia’s national institutions
- Remembering Stalinist repression
- Historical parallels with modern Armenia
- Attacks on memory and Church
- Opposition strategy after the election
Episode 573 | Recorded: July 31, 2026
#Armenia #GreatPurge #AghasiKhanjyan #PietroShakarian #Artsakh #ArmenianChurch #PoliticalRepression #MemoryUnderSiege #Authoritarianism #SovietArmenia
Read MorePietro Shakarian - Memory Under Siege: From Stalin to Pashinyan | Ep 573, Aug 3, 2026 [EP573]
Posted on Monday, Aug 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, HistoryGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Erasing memory across Yerevan
- Great Purge in Soviet Armenia
- Khanjyan’s assassination and Beria
- Repression of Armenia’s national institutions
- Remembering Stalinist repression
- Historical parallels with modern Armenia
- Attacks on memory and Church
- Opposition strategy after the election
Episode 573 | Recorded: July 31, 2026
#Armenia #GreatPurge #AghasiKhanjyan #PietroShakarian #Artsakh #ArmenianChurch #PoliticalRepression #MemoryUnderSiege #Authoritarianism #SovietArmenia
Read MoreTranscript: Pietro Shakarian - Memory Under Siege: From Stalin to Pashinyan | Ep 573, Aug 3, 2026 [EP573]
Posted on Monday, Aug 3, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, History, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Pietro Shakarian about memory, repression, and state power in Armenia across Soviet and contemporary periods. We discuss the Great Purge in Soviet Armenia, the assassination of Aghasi Khanjyan, the suppression of Armenian national institutions under Stalin and Beria, and the parallels between Stalinist erasure and current efforts to control public memory, symbols, and mourning in post-Artsakh Armenia under the Civil Contract regime.
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
- Iran warns of a wider regional response
- Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
- Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
- Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
- Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
- Housing policy expose domestic failures
Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026
#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics
From Caspian Drones to Armenia’s Cold Winter | Ep 571, Jul 26, 2026 [EP571]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Iran, PoliticsGroong Links:
Topics:
- Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
- Iran warns of a wider regional response
- Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
- Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
- Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
- Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
- Housing policy expose domestic failures
Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026
#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics