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.
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]
Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon | Series: wir
Guest:
Topic:
- Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
- FM Lavrovâs Interview to Russian Media
- EU vs CSTO Missions
- Shifting Public Perceptions
- Political Shuffles in Yerevan
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]
Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, LebanonGuest:
Topic:
- Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
- FM Lavrovâs Interview to Russian Media
- EU vs CSTO Missions
- Shifting Public Perceptions
- Political Shuffles in Yerevan
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 223, Feb 9, 2023 [EP223]
Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia, Russia | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 223, Feb 9, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 9, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Snowy and cold weather sets in
- Azerbaijan Switches off Gas again
- Shifting Electricity Blackout Strategy
- 25 Tons of Russian Aid Reach Stepanakert
- Negotiations and Negotiators Continue
- Redlines for Artsakh
- Arayik Harutyunyan talks with Gagik Tsarukyan
- Do not Take this Blockade Lightly!
- Treasonous Mindsets in Armenian Government
- Who Will They Fight For?
Episode 223 | Recorded: February 9, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 223, Feb 9, 2023 [EP223]
Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia, RussiaArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 223, Feb 9, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 9, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Snowy and cold weather sets in
- Azerbaijan Switches off Gas again
- Shifting Electricity Blackout Strategy
- 25 Tons of Russian Aid Reach Stepanakert
- Negotiations and Negotiators Continue
- Redlines for Artsakh
- Arayik Harutyunyan talks with Gagik Tsarukyan
- Do not Take this Blockade Lightly!
- Treasonous Mindsets in Armenian Government
- Who Will They Fight For?
Episode 223 | Recorded: February 9, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 222, Feb 7, 2023 [EP222]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 222, Feb 7, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 7, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Update for February 7
- Unreliable Gas Supply
- Adam Schiff invites Robert Avetisyan to the State of the Union
- Artsakh on the mind if the US Legislative Branch
Episode 222 | Recorded: February 7, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 222, Feb 7, 2023 [EP222]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh BlockadeArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 222, Feb 7, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 7, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Update for February 7
- Unreliable Gas Supply
- Adam Schiff invites Robert Avetisyan to the State of the Union
- Artsakh on the mind if the US Legislative Branch
Episode 222 | Recorded: February 7, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 221, Feb 4, 2023 [EP221]
Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 221, Feb 4, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 4, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Update for February 4
- Blackouts at 6 hours per day
- Gas mostly ok for 5-6 days
- Food Stamp & Rationing System working OK
- Azerbaijan Curating Profile of Azeri Activists
- More professional, curated, Organized
- Hand-picked journalists
- Protests as a Show
Episode 221 | Recorded: February 4, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 221, Feb 4, 2023 [EP221]
Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, ArmeniaArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 221, Feb 4, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 4, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Update for February 4
- Blackouts at 6 hours per day
- Gas mostly ok for 5-6 days
- Food Stamp & Rationing System working OK
- Azerbaijan Curating Profile of Azeri Activists
- More professional, curated, Organized
- Hand-picked journalists
- Protests as a Show
Episode 221 | Recorded: February 4, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 220, Jan 31, 2023 [EP220]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia, Human Rights | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 220, Jan 31, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 31, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Why less than daily updates
- January 31 Update
- Over 183 births since the blockade
- Gas has been on for 2 days now
- Some Service sector workers working again
Episode 220 | Recorded: January 31, 2023