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.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Nagorno Karabakh.
Episode 364 | Recorded: September 13, 2024
Episode 361 | Recorded: September 11, 2024
Episode 361 | Recorded: September 11, 2024
Episode 360 | Recorded: September 4, 2024
Episode 360 | Recorded: September 4, 2024
Episode 359 | Recorded: August 30, 2024
Episode 359 | Recorded: August 30, 2024
Norwegian & NATO Support for Ukraine. “The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order”. Small States and Multipolarity. Armenia’s Position in a Multipolar World.
Episode 358 | Recorded: September 2, 2024
Episode 358 | Recorded: September 2, 2024
Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024
Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024
Episode 355 | Recorded: August 19, 2024
Episode 355 | Recorded: August 19, 2024
Episode 353 | Recorded: August 12, 2024
Episode 353 | Recorded: August 12, 2024
Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024
Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024
Episode 349 | Recorded: July 31, 2024
Episode 349 | Recorded: July 31, 2024
Episode 347 | Recorded: July 22, 2024
Episode 347 | Recorded: July 22, 2024
Episode 341 | Recorded: June 25, 2024
Episode 341 | Recorded: June 25, 2024
Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024
Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024
Episode 335 | Recorded: June 10, 2024
Episode 335 | Recorded: June 10, 2024
Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024
Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024
Episode 331 | Recorded: May 18, 2024
Episode 331 | Recorded: May 18, 2024
Episode 329 | Recorded: May 14, 2024
Episode 329 | Recorded: May 14, 2024
Episode 328 | Recorded: May 5, 2024
Episode 328 | Recorded: May 5, 2024
Episode 326 | Recorded: April 24, 2024
Episode 326 | Recorded: April 24, 2024
Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024
Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024
Episode 323 | Recorded: April 8, 2024
Episode 323 | Recorded: April 8, 2024
The following is a transcript from Episode 322 where we conduct an in-depth interview with Dr. Markus Ritter, the head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMA) in Armenia. Dr. Ritter provides detailed explanations regarding the mission’s activities, its role in calming tensions along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and the challenges it faces amidst regional dynamics. Covering specific incidents and addressing criticisms, Dr. Ritter offers transparency on the mission’s operations, emphasizing its commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the region.
Episode 322 | Recorded: March 26, 2024
Episode 322 | Recorded: March 26, 2024
Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024
Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024
Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024
Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024
Episode 317 | Recorded: March 16, 2024
Episode 317 | Recorded: March 16, 2024
Episode 316 | Recorded: March 15, 2024
Episode 316 | Recorded: March 15, 2024
Episode 314 | Recorded: March 11, 2024
Episode 314 | Recorded: March 11, 2024
Episode 313 | Recorded: Mar 11, 2024
Episode 313 | Recorded: Mar 11, 2024
On February 24, a group of Russian and Armenian experts met in Congress hotel in Yerevan to discuss the state of Armenia-Russia relations. The discussion was friendly but tough and frank. Our guest from episode #311 was one of the participants in that discussion.
The following is a transcript of a clip from episode 311 , where we address the blooming romance (at least as it appears externally) between the Armenia and France, NATO and the collective West.
Episode 312 | Recorded: Mar 3, 2024