Nagorno Karabakh

Last updated: May 29, 2026

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict — also known as the Artsakh conflict, and in official Azerbaijani and international usage as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict — has been the central subject of Groong’s coverage since the podcast launched. With more than 450 episodes addressing the dispute in whole or in part, this archive represents one of the most comprehensive English-language audio records of the conflict’s recent history.

At its core, the conflict was not simply a territorial dispute between two states. The Armenian population of Artsakh — the Republic of Artsakh — was asserting its right to self-determination, a principle recognized in international law and enshrined in the UN Charter. That claim stood in direct tension with Azerbaijan’s insistence on its territorial integrity and the inviolability of Soviet-era administrative borders. The failure to resolve that tension through diplomacy over three decades ultimately ended in war.

Groong covered the 44-Day War of September–November 2020, in which Azerbaijan retook large portions of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) with Turkish military support, and the November 9, 2020 ceasefire brokered by Russia. That ceasefire created an unstable status quo: the Republic of Artsakh continued to exist on a reduced territory under the protection of Russian peacekeepers, but Azerbaijan progressively tightened its grip. The nine-month blockade of the Lachin Corridor from December 2022 onward cut the region off from food, medicine, and fuel, creating a humanitarian crisis documented in real time on Groong.

Azerbaijan’s military offensive of September 19–20, 2023 ended Armenian governance of Nagorno-Karabakh entirely. Within three weeks, virtually the entire Armenian population of Artsakh at the time — some 120,000 people, the descendants of communities that had lived in the region for millenia — was driven from the Republic of Artsakh to Armenia. Human rights organizations and many governments characterized this as ethnic cleansing. The Azerbaijani government dissolved the Republic of Artsakh on January 1, 2024.

Groong’s ongoing coverage addresses the situation of Armenian prisoners of war still held in Baku, including former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan , the right of return for the displaced population, ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations , and the prospects for accountability for what occurred.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Nagorno Karabakh.

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020 [EP18]

Posted on Monday, Sep 28, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Artsakh, China, Economy, Genocide, Lebanon, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

  • The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
  • Armenia’s foreign policy;
  • Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
  • Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Marine Manucharyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020

CoG: "Velvet Revolution" Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020 [EP17]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Democracy, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, Georgia, Russia | Series: cog

CoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020

It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.

In this

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CoG: "Velvet Revolution" Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020 [EP17]

Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Democracy, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, Georgia, Russia

CoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020

It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.

In this

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #14) - 09/13/2020 [EP14]

Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Israel, India, China, Georgia, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020

Topics:

  • Electoral Reforms in Armenia
  • Journalist Dana Mazalov passes away
  • ANSEF Reorganization
  • My Step MP Arsen Julfalakyan Resigns from Parliament
  • Russian Opposition Leader Navalny’s Poisoning and Recovery
  • What is going on in Baku?
    • Azeri pressure on Arms Providers to Armenia
    • Aliyev vs. Aliyeva?
    • Caucasus 2020 Joint Military Exercises and those MIA

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website:

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #14) - 09/13/2020 [EP14]

Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Israel, India, China, Georgia, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020

Topics:

  • Electoral Reforms in Armenia
  • Journalist Dana Mazalov passes away
  • ANSEF Reorganization
  • My Step MP Arsen Julfalakyan Resigns from Parliament
  • Russian Opposition Leader Navalny’s Poisoning and Recovery
  • What is going on in Baku?
    • Azeri pressure on Arms Providers to Armenia
    • Aliyev vs. Aliyeva?
    • Caucasus 2020 Joint Military Exercises and those MIA

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website:

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #13) - 09/06/2020 [EP13]

Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, China, Lebanon, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union | Series: wir

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/06/2020

Topics:

  • Adios Madrid?
  • A New Repatriation Package & iGorts
  • Adios Torosyan?
  • Update on Covid in Armenia / State of Emergency
  • Panelist Soapboxes

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • David Sandukhchyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200906.html Episode 13 | Recorded on September 6, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #13) - 09/06/2020 [EP13]

Posted on Monday, Sep 7, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, China, Lebanon, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/06/2020

Topics:

  • Adios Madrid?
  • A New Repatriation Package & iGorts
  • Adios Torosyan?
  • Update on Covid in Armenia / State of Emergency
  • Panelist Soapboxes

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • David Sandukhchyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200906.html Episode 13 | Recorded on September 6, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #11) - 08/30/2020 [EP11]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 30, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, Lebanon, USA, Middle East, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020

Topics:

  • Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
  • Armenia’s Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
  • Serge Sargsyan’s Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
  • National Awards
  • Vagharshak Harutyunyan’s Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #11) - 08/30/2020 [EP11]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 30, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, Lebanon, USA, Middle East, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020

Topics:

  • Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
  • Armenia’s Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
  • Serge Sargsyan’s Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
  • National Awards
  • Vagharshak Harutyunyan’s Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020