Nagorno Karabakh

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.

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 205, Jan 15, 2023 [EP205]

Posted on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Armenia | Series: artsakhblockade

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 205, Jan 15, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 15, 2023

Guest:

Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

Food Stamps & Rationing
Politics around Ruben Vardanyan
Awareness of Protesters and Corridor Blockage

Episode 205 | Recorded: January 15, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 205, Jan 15, 2023 [EP205]

Posted on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Armenia

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 205, Jan 15, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 15, 2023

Guest:

Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

Food Stamps & Rationing
Politics around Ruben Vardanyan
Awareness of Protesters and Corridor Blockage

Episode 205 | Recorded: January 15, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 204, Jan 14, 2023 [EP204]

Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Artsakh Blockade | Series: artsakhblockade

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 204, Jan 14, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 14, 2023

Guest:

Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

Rolling Blackouts Continue
Internet Connection Difficulties
Over 200 Businesses Closed
- Thousands laid off
- Kashen Mine remains Closed
Status in the Regions and Towns
Concerns over Tax RevenueÂ Shortfalls
Concerns about Rumors and Disinformation

Episode 204 | Recorded: January 14, 2023

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 204, Jan 14, 2023 [EP204]

Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Artsakh Blockade

Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 204, Jan 14, 2023

Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 14, 2023

Guest:

Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

Rolling Blackouts Continue
Internet Connection Difficulties
Over 200 Businesses Closed
- Thousands laid off
- Kashen Mine remains Closed
Status in the Regions and Towns
Concerns over Tax RevenueÂ Shortfalls
Concerns about Rumors and Disinformation

Episode 204 | Recorded: January 14, 2023

Aram Orbelyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 33 [EP202]

Posted on Friday, Jan 13, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Genocide, Ukraine, Human Rights, Georgia, NATO, Iran, Syria | Series: cog, video

Guests:

Aram Orbelyan , international law specialist, who is an attorney and managing partner at Concern Dialog law firm, and PhD in Public international law. Mr. Orbelyan lectures at the Academy of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, and lectured public international law at French University of Armenia. Mr. Orbelyan was Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia between 2011 and 2014.

“The Armenian government, under its legislation, is obliged to protect the independence of Artsakh” - Aram Orbelyan

Topic:

As of earlier this week, Artsakh has introduced coupons to ration food. Other

Aram Orbelyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 33 [EP202]

Posted on Friday, Jan 13, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Genocide, Ukraine, Human Rights, Georgia, NATO, Iran, Syria

Guests:

Aram Orbelyan , international law specialist, who is an attorney and managing partner at Concern Dialog law firm, and PhD in Public international law. Mr. Orbelyan lectures at the Academy of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, and lectured public international law at French University of Armenia. Mr. Orbelyan was Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia between 2011 and 2014.

“The Armenian government, under its legislation, is obliged to protect the independence of Artsakh” - Aram Orbelyan