Tag: Ilham Aliyev

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Ilham Aliyev, who has led Azerbaijan since 2003, is one of the most frequently discussed figures in Groong’s coverage. His government’s decision to launch the 44-Day War in 2020 and the subsequent military operation in September 2023 that ended Armenian control of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) — and resulted in the ethnic cleansing of over 150,000 Armenians from the region — fundamentally reshaped the South Caucasus.

Groong episodes examine Aliyev’s relationship with Turkey, his use of energy leverage over Europe, Azerbaijan’s growing ties with Israel and other arms suppliers, his government’s human rights record, and Baku’s demands in ongoing negotiations with Armenia over a peace treaty. Coverage also addresses Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in 2024 and what that meant for international scrutiny of the country’s domestic policies.

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 - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Hosts:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

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

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Hosts:

Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

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
 Read More

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
 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.
 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.
 Read More

This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.

The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.

Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022

This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.

The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.

Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022