Last updated: May 29, 2026
Nikol Pashinyan has been a central figure in Groong’s coverage since the podcast launched in 2020. He rose to power in 2018 through a street movement that its proponents called the Velvet Revolution — though a substantial segment of Armenian political opinion views the events as a color revolution or externally influenced regime change operation rather than a spontaneous civic uprising. Under Pashinyan, Armenia has undergone one of the most turbulent periods in its post-independence history.
The most consequential event of Pashinyan’s tenure was Armenia’s defeat in the 44-Day War of 2020, which ended with the loss of most of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) under a Russian-brokered ceasefire. Pashinyan survived political pressure to resign and consolidated power through snap elections in 2021. The September 2023 Azerbaijani offensive that caused the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Artsakh deepened the crisis of legitimacy — both internationally and domestically — as critics argue his concessions to Aliyev made the outcome inevitable.
Since 2022, Pashinyan has undertaken a significant reorientation of Armenian foreign policy: suspending participation in the CSTO , deepening ties with France, the EU, and the United States, and accepting Western security assistance including an EU monitoring mission on the Armenian border. This pivot away from Russia has defined Armenian geopolitics in the post-Artsakh period. Groong has covered every major step of this reorientation, including what it means for Armenia’s relationship with Iran, India, and other partners.
Domestically, Groong’s coverage of Pashinyan addresses his government’s confrontation with the Armenian Church , the arrest of opposition figures and political prisoners , the Tavush border delimitation controversy, and Civil Contract’s campaign in the June 2026 parliamentary elections . Critics covered extensively on Groong argue that Pashinyan has used his parliamentary supermajority to weaken democratic institutions and neutralize political opposition under the guise of reform.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Nikol Pashinyan.
Episode 237 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Episode 237 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
Guest:
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
Guest:
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
In this Conversations on Groong episode, we’ll be talking about the Internet censorship bill proposed in Armenia before the new year. We’ll also talk about the threat and activity of some Cyber spying malware in Armenia, such as the Israeli Pegasus software, which represents a threat to journalists and freedom of expression.
Topics:
Guest: Artur Papyan , malware researcher, digital security consultant, co-founder of CyberHub and director of the Media DIversity Institute .
Episode 229 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
In this Conversations on Groong episode, we’ll be talking about the Internet censorship bill proposed in Armenia before the new year. We’ll also talk about the threat and activity of some Cyber spying malware in Armenia, such as the Israeli Pegasus software, which represents a threat to journalists and freedom of expression.
Topics:
Guest: Artur Papyan , malware researcher, digital security consultant, co-founder of CyberHub and director of the Media DIversity Institute .
Episode 229 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read More“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read MoreEpisode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023
Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023
Conversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023
On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.
Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023
Conversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023
On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.
Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023
Edgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Edgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
âThis is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.â -Arthur Khachikyan
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)
Read MoreâThis is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.â -Arthur Khachikyan
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)
Read More“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
“Armenia has to draw a red line - Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan” -Hayk Mamijanyan
This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.
This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links:
“Armenia has to draw a red line - Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan” -Hayk Mamijanyan
This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.
This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links:
Episode 181 | Recorded: December 6, 2022
Episode 181 | Recorded: December 6, 2022
Episode 180 | Recorded: December 5, 2022
Episode 180 | Recorded: December 5, 2022
Episode 179 | Recorded: November 21, 2022
Episode 179 | Recorded: November 21, 2022
Episode 178 | Recorded: November 14, 2022
Episode 178 | Recorded: November 14, 2022
Episode 177 | Recorded: November 14, 2022
Episode 177 | Recorded: November 14, 2022
Episode 176 | Recorded: November 12, 2022
Episode 176 | Recorded: November 12, 2022
Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022
Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022
Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors
Read MoreFrom ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022
Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors
Read MoreArmenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian
In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.
Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, weâre analyzing what didnât work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for
Read MoreArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian
In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.
Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, weâre analyzing what didnât work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for
Read MoreArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics: