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.
This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.
The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.
Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse
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Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022
This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.
The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.
Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse
Hosts:
Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022
The Situation Around Berdzor with Hakob Hakobyan and Davit Galstyan
Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ«Õ³Õ¡Õ¯Õ¨ Ô²Õ¥ÖÕ±Õ¸ÖÕ« Õ·Õ¸ÖÖÕ» ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ« Ö Ô´Õ¡Õ¾Õ«Õ© Ô³Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ« Õ°Õ¥Õ¿
Guests / ÕÕµÕ¸ÖÖÕ¥Ö:
Hakob Hakobyan , co-chair of the Artsakh Justice Party. ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ« Ô±ÖÕ¤Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¸ÖÕ¶ Ô¿Õ¸ÖÕ½Õ¡Õ¯ÖÕ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ¶Õ¡ÕÕ¡Õ£Õ¡Õ°:
David Galstyan(/guest/dgalstyan), leader of the Justice faction in the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. Ô´Õ¡Õ¾Õ«Õ© Ô³Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ« ÕÕ¡Õ¶ÖÕ¡ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô±Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ«Õ¶ ÔºÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ¾Õ«
The Situation Around Berdzor with Hakob Hakobyan and Davit Galstyan
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Guests / ÕÕµÕ¸ÖÖÕ¥Ö:
Hakob Hakobyan , co-chair of the Artsakh Justice Party. ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ ÕÕ¡Õ¯Õ¸Õ¢ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ« Ô±ÖÕ¤Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¸ÖÕ¶ Ô¿Õ¸ÖÕ½Õ¡Õ¯ÖÕ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ¶Õ¡ÕÕ¡Õ£Õ¡Õ°:
David Galstyan(/guest/dgalstyan), leader of the Justice faction in the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. Ô´Õ¡Õ¾Õ«Õ© Ô³Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ« ÕÕ¡Õ¶ÖÕ¡ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô±Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ«Õ¶ ÔºÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ¾Õ«
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 31, 2022
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Episode 149 | Recorded: Monday, July 31, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220731.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 31, 2022
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Episode 149 | Recorded: Monday, July 31, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220731.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
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Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
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Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022
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Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022
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Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html
Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
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Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
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Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
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Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
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Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
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Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
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Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
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Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
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Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022
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00:00 Introduction
02:27 Russiaâs Geopolitics: Weâll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russiaâs endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.
23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.
42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guestâs area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022
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00:00 Introduction
02:27 Russiaâs Geopolitics: Weâll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russiaâs endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.
23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.
42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guestâs area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
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Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
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Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
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Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
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Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
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Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
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Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 1, 2022
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Episode 134 | Recorded: Monday, May 2, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220501.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 1, 2022
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Episode 134 | Recorded: Monday, May 2, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220501.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022
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Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022
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Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.
00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.
00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022
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Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022
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Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 27, 2022
Episode 130 | Recorded: Monday, March 28, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 27, 2022
Episode 130 | Recorded: Monday, March 28, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 20, 2022
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Episode 129 | Recorded: Sunday, March 21, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220320.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 20, 2022
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Episode 129 | Recorded: Sunday, March 21, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220320.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 6, 2022
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Episode 126 | Recorded: Sunday, March 6, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220306.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 6, 2022
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Episode 126 | Recorded: Sunday, March 6, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220306.html
Armeniaâs Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan
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Armeniaâs Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan
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Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan - February 18, 2022
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Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan - February 18, 2022
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ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
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Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022
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Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022
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Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022
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Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan
Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakhâs Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the âPath of Lawâ NGO. Ô»ÖÕ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸ÖÕ²Õ« in Armenian.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022
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Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022
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Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022
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Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022
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Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 9, 2022
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Episode 112 | Recorded: Sunday, January 9, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220109.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 9, 2022
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Episode 112 | Recorded: Sunday, January 9, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220109.html
Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian
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Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian
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ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 26, 2021
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Episode 110 | Recorded: Sunday, December 27, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 26, 2021
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Episode 110 | Recorded: Sunday, December 27, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021