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.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges
Guest
Topics
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges
Guest
Topics
Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read MoreIran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html
Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html
A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021
Guest:
Narek Margaryan is an Armenian comedian, screenwriter and TV host. Along with his co-host Sergey Sargsyan, Narek stars in ArmComedy, a satiric news show series broadcast on Armenian television and on Youtube.
Hosts
Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021
Guest:
Narek Margaryan is an Armenian comedian, screenwriter and TV host. Along with his co-host Sergey Sargsyan, Narek stars in ArmComedy, a satiric news show series broadcast on Armenian television and on Youtube.
Hosts
Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 23, 2021
Topics:
Guest:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210523.html Recorded: May 24, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 23, 2021
Topics:
Guest:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210523.html Recorded: May 24, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 28, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210328.html Episode 55 | Recorded: March 28, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 28, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210328.html Episode 55 | Recorded: March 28, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests:
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests:
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021
Weâll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.
Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021
Weâll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.
Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreConversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021
Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021
As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.
In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.
Today weâre joined by:
Maria Karapetyan, who is a member
Read MoreConversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021
As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.
In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.
Today weâre joined by:
Maria Karapetyan, who is a member
Read MoreConversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.
Weâll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his partyâs vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.
What is Bright Armeniaâs vision for post
Read MoreConversation with Bright Armenia’s Edmon Marukyan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, all major political forces in Armenia (except for the ruling party) condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. While the dissatisfaction with the agreement is widespread, the opposition is not entirely unified on what to do next.
Weâll talk with the leader of one of the 2 parliamentary opposition factions, Bright Armenia about his, and his partyâs vision and subsequent actions to be taken by Armenia.
What is Bright Armeniaâs vision for post
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 35 - Dec 20, 2020
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201220.html Recorded: Dec 20, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 35 - Dec 20, 2020
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201220.html Recorded: Dec 20, 2020
Conversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (ÕÕ¡ÕµÖÕ¥Õ¶Õ«ÖÕ« ÖÖÕ¯Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ·Õ¡ÕªÕ¸ÖÕ´ in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyanâs immediate resignation and the appointment of their
Read MoreConversation with ARF’s Arthur Khachatryan
Following the trilateral Karabakh ceasefire of Nov 9, the Armenian opposition has nearly universally condemned Nikol Pashinyanâs agreement to the deal. The largest opposition grouping, called Movement of the Salvation of the Homeland (ÕÕ¡ÕµÖÕ¥Õ¶Õ«ÖÕ« ÖÖÕ¯Õ¸ÖÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ·Õ¡ÕªÕ¸ÖÕ´ in Armenian), composed of 17 political parties including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party, are demanding Pashinyanâs immediate resignation and the appointment of their
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Dec 13, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Dec 13, 2020
On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russiaâs interests in the region, and in this agreement?
Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The
Read MoreOn November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russiaâs interests in the region, and in this agreement?
Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The
Read More