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.
Opposition restart | Berdzor & Aghavno | "Peace Plan" | Military service | Ep 160 - Aug 28, 2022 [EP160]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Iran, Economy, Syria, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
- 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
- 34:43 âPeace Planâ coming?
- 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
- 54:15 Rant
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked | Ep #158 - Aug 25, 2022 [EP158]
Posted on Thursday, Aug 25, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: cog
Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked - August 25, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN
Topics:
- The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Has Called on Congress to Investigate the Biden Administrationâs Artsakh Aid Blockade.
- The Biden Administrationâs Record on Armenian-Backed Resolutions.
Guest:
- Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 158 | Recorded on Thursday, August 25, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220825.html
Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked | Ep #158 - Aug 25, 2022 [EP158]
Posted on Thursday, Aug 25, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, NATOAid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked - August 25, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN
Topics:
- The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Has Called on Congress to Investigate the Biden Administrationâs Artsakh Aid Blockade.
- The Biden Administrationâs Record on Armenian-Backed Resolutions.
Guest:
- Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 158 | Recorded on Thursday, August 25, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220825.html
August 23 - Declaration of Independence of The Republic of Armenia | Ep #157 - Aug 23, 2022 [EP157]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Genocide, Artsakh, Human Rights, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide | Series: cog
Armenian News Network/Groong - August 23, 2022
On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed Armenia as independent.
True, Armenia officially celebrates independence day on September 21, due to the referendum which was held on Sep 21 1991, the following year. But for me, the date of August 23 - the date of the proclamation of the declaration of independence - is no less special.
For it is this document comprised of 12 articles that form the basis for all laws in Armenia and for the constitution itself. From the need to establish historic justice,
Read MoreAugust 23 - Declaration of Independence of The Republic of Armenia | Ep #157 - Aug 23, 2022 [EP157]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Genocide, Artsakh, Human Rights, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian GenocideArmenian News Network/Groong - August 23, 2022
On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed Armenia as independent.
True, Armenia officially celebrates independence day on September 21, due to the referendum which was held on Sep 21 1991, the following year. But for me, the date of August 23 - the date of the proclamation of the declaration of independence - is no less special.
For it is this document comprised of 12 articles that form the basis for all laws in Armenia and for the constitution itself. From the need to establish historic justice,
Read MoreSurmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:44 Surmalu Blast
- 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
- 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
- 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
- 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
- 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
- 21:52 Foreign Relations
- 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
- 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
- 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
- 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
- 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
- 53:48 Resistance
Surmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Nagorno KarabakhArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:44 Surmalu Blast
- 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
- 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
- 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
- 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
- 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
- 21:52 Foreign Relations
- 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
- 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
- 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
- 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
- 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
- 53:48 Resistance
Armenia’s Economy in 2022 - PART2: Bank Secrecy | Cashless Transactions | Ep #155 - August 12, 2022 [EP155]
Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Economy, Georgia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog
Armeniaâs Economy in 2022 - PART 2 Conversation with Vardan Aramyan
Topics:
- Bank Secrecy Legislation
- Cashless Transactions
- Explaining Economic âParadoxâ
Guest:
Mr. Vardan Aramyan is the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia from 2016-2018. He is currently Senior Vice President for Finance and Economy at Vallex Group in Yerevan.
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 155 | Recorded on Friday, August 5, 2022
Armenia’s Economy in 2022 - PART2: Bank Secrecy | Cashless Transactions | Ep #155 - August 12, 2022 [EP155]
Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Economy, Georgia, Artsakh, Nagorno KarabakhArmeniaâs Economy in 2022 - PART 2 Conversation with Vardan Aramyan
Topics:
- Bank Secrecy Legislation
- Cashless Transactions
- Explaining Economic âParadoxâ
Guest:
Mr. Vardan Aramyan is the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia from 2016-2018. He is currently Senior Vice President for Finance and Economy at Vallex Group in Yerevan.
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 155 | Recorded on Friday, August 5, 2022