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.
Armenian and Azerbaijani Expert Perspectives on Negotiations | Ep #107 - Dec 15, 2021 [EP107]
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Artsakh, USA, China, Syria, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO, Genocide, Israel, India
Anar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations
Guests:
- Dr. Anar Valiyev, Associate Professor at Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University in Baku.
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan, Chairman of Yerevan-based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.
Topics:
- Artsakh Status (@4:54)
- Is the conflict really “solved” (@11:04)
- Opening of Communications (@38:52)
- Corridor for Corridor (@46:32)
- “Unimpeded” Access (@50:15)
- Russia’s regional role (@53:16)
- Turkey’s regional role (@58:48)
- 3+3 or 3+2 Format
Zoom for Democracy | Domestic & Regional Politics | Artsakh Republic at 30 | Ep #106 - Dec 12, 2021 [EP106]
Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, China, Israel, Syria, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, NATO, Lebanon, Middle East | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021
Topics:
- Zoom for Democracy
- Domestic Politics
- Regional Politics
- Artsakh Independence at 30
- Analyst Rants
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
- Pietro Shakarian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021
Zoom for Democracy | Domestic & Regional Politics | Artsakh Republic at 30 | Ep #106 - Dec 12, 2021 [EP106]
Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, China, Israel, Syria, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, NATO, Lebanon, Middle EastANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021
Topics:
- Zoom for Democracy
- Domestic Politics
- Regional Politics
- Artsakh Independence at 30
- Analyst Rants
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
- Pietro Shakarian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021
Regional Geopolitics | Turkmen / Iran Gas | Armenian Opposition Fizzles Out | Ep #105 - Dec 5, 2021 [EP105]
Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, China, Artsakh, Geopolitics, India, Israel, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 5, 2021
Topics:
- Regional Geopolitics @1:07
- Turkmenistan / Iran Gas Swap Deal @46:58
- Opposition Fizzles Out. Again @58:18
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 105 | Recorded: Sunday, December 5, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211205.html
Regional Geopolitics | Turkmen / Iran Gas | Armenian Opposition Fizzles Out | Ep #105 - Dec 5, 2021 [EP105]
Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, China, Artsakh, Geopolitics, India, Israel, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Georgia, Syria, UkraineANN/Groong Week in Review - December 5, 2021
Topics:
- Regional Geopolitics @1:07
- Turkmenistan / Iran Gas Swap Deal @46:58
- Opposition Fizzles Out. Again @58:18
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 105 | Recorded: Sunday, December 5, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211205.html
Pashinyan Live | From Sochi to Brussels | Normalization | Co-opetition | Ep #104 - Nov 28, 2021 [EP104]
Posted on Monday, Nov 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Syria, Economy, Georgia, China, India, Lebanon, Artsakh, Ukraine, Genocide, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 28, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan Live on Facebook
- Trilateral in Sochi, Bilateral in Brussels
- Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
- Russian-Turkish “Co-opetition” in Eurasia
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m
- Yeghia Tashjian TW/@yeghig
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 104 | Recorded: Sunday, November 28, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211128.html
Pashinyan Live | From Sochi to Brussels | Normalization | Co-opetition | Ep #104 - Nov 28, 2021 [EP104]
Posted on Monday, Nov 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Syria, Economy, Georgia, China, India, Lebanon, Artsakh, Ukraine, Genocide, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATOANN/Groong Week in Review - November 28, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan Live on Facebook
- Trilateral in Sochi, Bilateral in Brussels
- Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
- Russian-Turkish “Co-opetition” in Eurasia
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m
- Yeghia Tashjian TW/@yeghig
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 104 | Recorded: Sunday, November 28, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211128.html
Vardan Aramyan - Armenian Budget and Economy For 2022 | Ep 102 - Nov 21, 2021 [EP102]
Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, China, Iran, Turkey, European Union | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest:
- Mr. Vardan Aramyan - Fmr. Minister of Finance, Republic of Armenia
Topics:
- 2022 Budget and Economic Growth @1:24
- Did Armenian economy recover already? @3:55
- Does the structure of growth mirror worldwide growth @8:55
- What happens if growth doesn’t meet target @14:25
- Why did the IMF underestimate Armenian growth initially @17:38
- Growth Sectors in Budget @23:41
- Are prices for Copper/Aluminum extremely inflated? @25:50
- Inflation @32:48
- Effect on wages, income inequality, poverty & other socioeconomic markers? @41:36
Vardan Aramyan - Armenian Budget and Economy For 2022 | Ep 102 - Nov 21, 2021 [EP102]
Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Economy, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, China, Iran, Turkey, European UnionGroong Links:
Guest:
- Mr. Vardan Aramyan - Fmr. Minister of Finance, Republic of Armenia
Topics:
- 2022 Budget and Economic Growth @1:24
- Did Armenian economy recover already? @3:55
- Does the structure of growth mirror worldwide growth @8:55
- What happens if growth doesn’t meet target @14:25
- Why did the IMF underestimate Armenian growth initially @17:38
- Growth Sectors in Budget @23:41
- Are prices for Copper/Aluminum extremely inflated? @25:50
- Inflation @32:48
- Effect on wages, income inequality, poverty & other socioeconomic markers? @41:36