Nagorno Karabakh

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):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

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

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
• Suren Sargsyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Summary of diplomatic activities
• Iranian mediation offers
• Negotiations in Geneva
• Support from ex-presidents
• Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian https://twitter.com/asbedk
• Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Suren Sargsyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Summary of diplomatic activities
• Iranian mediation offers
• Negotiations in Geneva
• Support from ex-presidents
• Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian https://twitter.com/qubriq
• Hovik Manucharyan https://twitter.com/HovikYerevan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian https://twitter.com/asbedk
• Suren Sargsyan https://twitter.com/s_a_sargsyan

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020

Guest(s):

• Katia Peltekian
• Vera Yacoubian

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

Guest(s):

• Katia Peltekian
• Vera Yacoubian

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020

Topics Covered:

• In retrospect: Tracing our steps back to Sep. 27
• Call from extra-parliamentary opposition for a War Council
• Mobilization of the Armenian diaspora

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020

Topics Covered:

• In retrospect: Tracing our steps back to Sep. 27
• Call from extra-parliamentary opposition for a War Council
• Mobilization of the Armenian diaspora

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020

Topics:

• Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
• Turkey’s role in the war.
• Why is Russia quiet?
• What can we expect next?

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020

Topics:

• Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
• Turkey’s role in the war.
• Why is Russia quiet?
• What can we expect next?

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Marine Manucharyan

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

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

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

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

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:

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

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:

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• David Sandukhchyan

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

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• David Sandukhchyan

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 - 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):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

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 - 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):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

Guest(s):

• Ara Sanjian
• Siranush Dvoyan

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

Guest(s):

• Ara Sanjian
• Siranush Dvoyan

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

Topics:

• Turkey: Zero Problems?
• Azerbaijan: The Myth of Brotherly Relations?
• Armenia: From Diplomatic Overtures to a Mini Cold War

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020

Topics:

• Turkey: Zero Problems?
• Azerbaijan: The Myth of Brotherly Relations?
• Armenia: From Diplomatic Overtures to a Mini Cold War

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020

This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.

Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past week’s headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyan’s

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Alen Zamanyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020

This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.

Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past week’s headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyan’s

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 07/26/2020

Topics:

• Panel: War roundup / Artsakh
• Conversation: National Security Doctrine
• Panel: National Security Doctrine

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Karen Vrtanesyan
• Alen Zamanyan

A Conversation with

• Karena Avedissian (special guest)

Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 07/26/2020

Topics:

• Panel: War roundup / Artsakh
• Conversation: National Security Doctrine
• Panel: National Security Doctrine

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Karen Vrtanesyan
• Alen Zamanyan

A Conversation with

• Karena Avedissian (special guest)

Episode 4 | Recorded on July 26, 2020