Moscow

Calls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War

A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan

The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.

A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021

Topics:

• Escalation in Yeraskh
• “Peace Treaty” at Gunpoint
• Emigration out of Armenia
• Trip Report from Our Guests

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Hrant Mikaelian

Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021

Topics:

• Escalation in Yeraskh
• “Peace Treaty” at Gunpoint
• Emigration out of Armenia
• Trip Report from Our Guests

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Hrant Mikaelian

Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

• Putin / Pashinyan meeting
• Constitutional Court Challenge
• Forging Steel out of Velvet
• Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

• Putin / Pashinyan meeting
• Constitutional Court Challenge
• Forging Steel out of Velvet
• Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

• Armenia’s Elections
• Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Erdogan in Azerbaijan
• Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

• Armenia’s Elections
• Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Erdogan in Azerbaijan
• Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

• Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

• The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
• On the War in 2020
• On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
• On the

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

• Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

• The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
• On the War in 2020
• On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
• On the

Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War

A Conversation with:

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Cleveland-based historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, with a focus on Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw.

Topics

• Democracy-building in the Post Soviet Space
• NATO and expansion
• Russia in the Caucasus
• China and the New Silk Road through Iran and Georgia

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html

Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War

A Conversation with:

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Cleveland-based historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, with a focus on Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw.

Topics

• Democracy-building in the Post Soviet Space
• NATO and expansion
• Russia in the Caucasus
• China and the New Silk Road through Iran and Georgia

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
• Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
• Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 23, 2021

Topics:

• Border update, and Leaked documents
• Azerbaijan membership in the CSTO?
• New MPG Poll on the Armenian Elections

Guest:

• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210523.html Recorded: May 24, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 23, 2021

Topics:

• Border update, and Leaked documents
• Azerbaijan membership in the CSTO?
• New MPG Poll on the Armenian Elections

Guest:

• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210523.html Recorded: May 24, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

• Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
• Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
• Electoral Politics

Guests:

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

• Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
• Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
• Electoral Politics

Guests:

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021

Topics:

• Armenia-Russia Relations and the New Cold War
• Iran-Russia and Iran-Armenia Relations
• Election Politics and the Latest MPG Polls
• Serge Sargsyan’s Interview

Guests:

• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

• Marine Manucharyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021

Topics:

• Armenia-Russia Relations and the New Cold War
• Iran-Russia and Iran-Armenia Relations
• Election Politics and the Latest MPG Polls
• Serge Sargsyan’s Interview

Guests:

• Marine Manucharyan @armoland
• Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

• Marine Manucharyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021

Topics:

• Mr. Pashinyan goes to Moscow
• Election Politics
• The POW debacle
• A Coronavirus Update
• The State of the Economy

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021

Topics:

• Mr. Pashinyan goes to Moscow
• Election Politics
• The POW debacle
• A Coronavirus Update
• The State of the Economy

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan’s Prosecutors Won’t Go Away
• Snap Electoral Reforms
• New Gallup poll
• What’s Going on in Ukraine?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021

Topics:

• Kocharyan’s Prosecutors Won’t Go Away
• Snap Electoral Reforms
• New Gallup poll
• What’s Going on in Ukraine?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Syunik Confidential
• Developments in Artsakh
• Snap elections flip flop

Guests:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
• Amending the Law on Mass Media
• Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
• Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
• Amending the Law on Mass Media
• Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
• Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• What took place in 2018?
• Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
• Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
• Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
• Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• What took place in 2018?
• Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
• Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
• Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
• Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Edgar Elbakyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyan’s trip to Moscow
• What is Azerbaijan’s geo-political situation after the war?
• Domestic politics in Baku
• Azerbaijan’s losses from the second war in Artsakh

Guests

• Edgar Elbakyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Edgar Elbakyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyan’s trip to Moscow
• What is Azerbaijan’s geo-political situation after the war?
• Domestic politics in Baku
• Azerbaijan’s losses from the second war in Artsakh

Guests

• Edgar Elbakyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman and prior to that rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO.

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

• Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman and prior to that rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO.

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021

Topics Covered:

• The State of the Opposition and their demands
• Update on the Border Positions between Armenia & Azerbaijan
• The State of the Line of Contact around Artsakh

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021

Topics Covered:

• The State of the Opposition and their demands
• Update on the Border Positions between Armenia & Azerbaijan
• The State of the Line of Contact around Artsakh

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• George Tabakian

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Renewed Fighting & the OSCE MG visit
• Expedited Border Demarcation?
• What will happen to Sotq?
• Diplomatic Relations with Azerbaijan?

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Recorded: Dec 13, 2020

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Renewed Fighting & the OSCE MG visit
• Expedited Border Demarcation?
• What will happen to Sotq?
• Diplomatic Relations with Azerbaijan?

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Recorded: Dec 13, 2020

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

• Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
• Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
• Does Putin support Pashinyan?
• Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

• Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
• Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
• Does Putin support Pashinyan?
• Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• The Scene in Yerevan
• COVID Update
• Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• The Scene in Yerevan
• COVID Update
• Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020

Topics Covered:

• International diplomacy on the move?
• What is Turkey’s endgame?
• War and post-war economy
• Update on COVID

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020

Topics Covered:

• International diplomacy on the move?
• What is Turkey’s endgame?
• War and post-war economy
• Update on COVID

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020

Guest(s):

• Lara Aharonian
• Robert Avetisyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Security situation on the ground;
• Diplomatic activity, short & long term goals;
• Humanitarian impact in Artsakh & Armenia;
• Effect of social media on the war.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Asbed Kotchikian

Resident Panelists:

• Lara Aharonian: Co-founder & co-director of the Women’s Resource Center NGO in Yerevan
• Robert Avetisyan: Representative of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the US

Episode 21 Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 Full details: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201012.html Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)