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.
Sergei Melkonian - Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue in Chisinau/Kishinev and Moscow | Pashinyan Attends Erdogan Inauguration | Israeli President in Azerbaijan | Ep 260 - June 4, 2023 [EP260]
Posted on Monday, Jun 5, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Turkey, Syria, China, Middle East, Ukraine, European Union, Georgia, Lebanon, NATO
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue
- You say Chisinau, I say Kishinev
- Deputy PMs Meet in Moscow
- Israeli President Visits Azerbaijan
- Pashinyan Attends Erdoganâs Inauguration
- Armenia-Russia Relations
Episode 260 | Recorded: June 5, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 259, June 2, 2023 [EP259]
Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, NATO | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 259, June 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - June 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Current Living and Humanitarian Conditions
- Morale after Pashinyanâs Recognition of Artsakh in Azerbaijan
- How is Artsakh Responding to Aliyevâs Amnesty Threats?
- Moral of the Artsakhtsi Population
- About Artsakh Men Being Denied Transit through Azeri Checkpoints
- Have the Russian Peacekeepers Changed Under Lentsov?
- All Parties are in Breach of the November 2020 Trilateral Ceasefire Agreement
Episode 259 | Recorded: June 2, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 259, June 2, 2023 [EP259]
Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, NATOArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 259, June 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - June 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Current Living and Humanitarian Conditions
- Morale after Pashinyanâs Recognition of Artsakh in Azerbaijan
- How is Artsakh Responding to Aliyevâs Amnesty Threats?
- Moral of the Artsakhtsi Population
- About Artsakh Men Being Denied Transit through Azeri Checkpoints
- Have the Russian Peacekeepers Changed Under Lentsov?
- All Parties are in Breach of the November 2020 Trilateral Ceasefire Agreement
Episode 259 | Recorded: June 2, 2023
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023 [EP258]
Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, USA, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, NATO, Middle East | Series: cog
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia
Guest:
Topics:
- Intro to Ms Aghajanian
- Career path, Mentors, Influencers
- Parting ways with the MFA
- How did Armenia Resist Turkish Pressure prior to 2018
- Impressions of 2018 events
- On Pashinyanâs Policies to Surrender Artsakh
- Letter Planning the Surrender
- Messaging Aliyev to begin Instigations
- Changing Security Doctrine
- The Myth of Western Security Guarantees
- Pashinyanâs Fiction re Alma Ata and Madrid Principles
- On Armeniaâs National Interests
- On Armenian
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023 [EP258]
Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, USA, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, NATO, Middle EastDziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia
Guest:
Topics:
- Intro to Ms Aghajanian
- Career path, Mentors, Influencers
- Parting ways with the MFA
- How did Armenia Resist Turkish Pressure prior to 2018
- Impressions of 2018 events
- On Pashinyanâs Policies to Surrender Artsakh
- Letter Planning the Surrender
- Messaging Aliyev to begin Instigations
- Changing Security Doctrine
- The Myth of Western Security Guarantees
- Pashinyanâs Fiction re Alma Ata and Madrid Principles
- On Armeniaâs National Interests
- On Armenian
Arthur Khachikyan - May 28 | Mother Armenia Movement | Aliyev Threatens, Pashinyan Concedes | Erdogan Reelected | Goodbye CSTO, Hello NATO? | Ep 257 - May 28, 2023 [EP257]
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenian Genocide, Turkey, NATO, Genocide, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia celebrates May 28
- A new political movement, Mother Armenia, was announced.
- Aliyev Threatens, Pashinyan Concedes
- Erdogan Reelected President in Turkey
- Goodbye CSTO, Hello NATO?
Episode 257 | Recorded: May 30, 2023
Arthur Khachikyan - May 28 | Mother Armenia Movement | Aliyev Threatens, Pashinyan Concedes | Erdogan Reelected | Goodbye CSTO, Hello NATO? | Ep 257 - May 28, 2023 [EP257]
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenian Genocide, Turkey, NATO, Genocide, Ukraine, Georgia, IranGuest:
Topics:
- Armenia celebrates May 28
- A new political movement, Mother Armenia, was announced.
- Aliyev Threatens, Pashinyan Concedes
- Erdogan Reelected President in Turkey
- Goodbye CSTO, Hello NATO?
Episode 257 | Recorded: May 30, 2023
Negotiations Carousel | Meghri Railway | Rasht-Astara Railway | Kornidzor Rally | Artsakh Politics | Ep 256 - May 21, 2023 [EP256]
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, India, Genocide, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Georgia | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Accelerated Negotiations
- Negotiations Carousel
- Meghri Railway
- Russia Finances Rasht-Astara
- Rallies in Artsakh and Kornidzor
- Artsakh Domestic Politics
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Negotiations Carousel | Meghri Railway | Rasht-Astara Railway | Kornidzor Rally | Artsakh Politics | Ep 256 - May 21, 2023 [EP256]
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, India, Genocide, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, GeorgiaGuest:
Topics:
- Accelerated Negotiations
- Negotiations Carousel
- Meghri Railway
- Russia Finances Rasht-Astara
- Rallies in Artsakh and Kornidzor
- Artsakh Domestic Politics
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023