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.
Armenia-Russia | Iran-Russia/Iran-Armenia | Election Latest Polls | Sargsyan (Ep #60) - May 2, 2021 [EP60]
Posted on Monday, May 3, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, China, Turkey, Genocide, Geopolitics, Ukraine, Middle East, Artsakh, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: WIR
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 Sargsyanâs Interview
Guests:
- Marine Manucharyan @armoland
- Pietro Shakarian
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq
- Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
PM Roadmap, NA Polls | Syunik | Recognized. What next? | Stepanakert | Space! - Ep #59: 2021-04-25 [EP59]
Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Georgia, Iran, Economy, Israel, Artsakh, China, Syria, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
Topics:
- Nikol Pashinyanâs Roadmap & Snap Parliamentary Polls
- The Visit to Syunik
- Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Now What?
- Update from Stepanakert
- Are we Going to Mars?
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan
- Emil Sanamyan
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
Kocharyan Case | Electoral reforms | New Gallup Poll | Ukraine heating Up | (Ep #56) - Apr 4, 2021 [EP56]
Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
Topics:
- Kocharyanâs Prosecutors Wonât Go Away
- Snap Electoral Reforms
- New Gallup poll
- Whatâs 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
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 28, 2021
Topics:
- Whatâs Going on with the Armed Forces?
- Turkey: Enemy No More?
- What Just Happened in the General Staff?
- Morale and Readiness of the Armed Forces
- The Defense Budget
- Report from Syunik
Guests
- George Tabakian
- Karen Vrtanesyan
Hosts
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210328.html Episode 55 | Recorded: March 28, 2021
Latest IRI Poll Results | Armen Grigoryan Interview | Snap On, Snap Off (Ep #53) - 03/14/2021 [EP53]
Posted on Monday, Mar 15, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, India, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, Economy, Human Rights, Iran, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021
Topics:
- Newly Released IRI Poll Results
- Armen Grigoryanâs Interview
- Snap On, Snap Off!
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Hosts
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021
Iskander & Relations with Russia | Attempted Coup? | Opposition | Boeing 737 Hijacked? (Ep #52) [EP52]
Posted on Sunday, Feb 28, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Israel, Economy, Syria, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: WIR
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Wait, Did Armenia Use the Iskander to Blow Up its Relations With Russia?
- Wait, Was There a Coup?
- The Opposition Picks up Steam
- Wait, was The 737 Hijacked?
Guests:
- David Davidian
- George Tabakian
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
Syunik Confidential | Developments in Artsakh | Snap elections flip flop (Ep #49) [EP49]
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, China, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO | Series: WIR
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
Lost in Artsakh | Law on Mass Media | Political Scene in Yerevan | Economic Outlook (Ep #48) [EP48]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh, Economy, Iran, China, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: WIR
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
Constitutional Amendment | Opp Rising | Zarif Tour | Virus Update | Armenia Fund & the Dram (Ep #47) [EP47]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Economy, Israel, Russia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Another Constitutional Amendment?
- Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
- Iranâs 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