Nikol Pashinyan
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.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Nikol Pashinyan.
Joel Veldkamp - Armenia’s Prayer Breakfast and the Crackdown on the Church | Ep 490, Nov 27, 2025 [EP490]
Posted on Thursday, Nov 27, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, Genocide
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Clergy Arrests in Armenia
- Church Under Pressure
- Prayer Breakfast Controversy
- Western Silence on Repression
- CSIâs Findings in Yerevan
Episode 490 | Recorded: November 25, 2025
#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #ChristianSolidarityInternational #HumanRightsInArmenia
Garen Jinbachian - OSCE Human Dimension Conf, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and The West | Ep 489, Nov 26, 2025 [EP489]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Georgia, Genocide, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijanâs war crimes and impunity
- Sham trials of Artsakh leaders
- Silence of the OSCE and the West
- Armeniaâs growing political repression
- Attacks on the Armenian Church
Episode 489 | Recorded: November 23, 2025
Garen Jinbachian - OSCE Human Dimension Conf, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and The West | Ep 489, Nov 26, 2025 [EP489]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, Georgia, Genocide, Turkey, Iran, LebanonGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijanâs war crimes and impunity
- Sham trials of Artsakh leaders
- Silence of the OSCE and the West
- Armeniaâs growing political repression
- Attacks on the Armenian Church
Episode 489 | Recorded: November 23, 2025
Hrant Mikaelian - Ukraine Talks, Armenia’s Crackdowns, and Rising Tensions | Ep 488, Nov 23, 2025 [EP488]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, China, Economy, Iran, Middle East, Artsakh, Human Rights, Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- High-Stakes Ukraine Talks
- Armeniaâs Growing Political Detentions
- Pashinyan Honored In Kazakhstan
- Rising Pressure On The Church
- Impeachment vs. Elections
- Pashinyan Seizes Power Grid
Episode 488 | Recorded: November 24, 2025
Hrant Mikaelian - Ukraine Talks, Armenia’s Crackdowns, and Rising Tensions | Ep 488, Nov 23, 2025 [EP488]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, China, Economy, Iran, Middle East, Artsakh, Human Rights, Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATOGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- High-Stakes Ukraine Talks
- Armeniaâs Growing Political Detentions
- Pashinyan Honored In Kazakhstan
- Rising Pressure On The Church
- Impeachment vs. Elections
- Pashinyan Seizes Power Grid
Episode 488 | Recorded: November 24, 2025
Hayk Mamijanyan - Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia, Vagharshapat, RPA Strategy | Ep 487, Nov 19, 2025 [EP487]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Geopolitics, European Union, Iran | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
- Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
- Republican Party Election Strategy
- Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia
Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025
Hayk Mamijanyan - Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia, Vagharshapat, RPA Strategy | Ep 487, Nov 19, 2025 [EP487]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Geopolitics, European Union, IranGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
- Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
- Republican Party Election Strategy
- Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia
Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025
Arthur Khachikyan - Imnemnimi Podcasters Arrested, Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia | Ep 485, Nov 14, 2025 [EP485]
Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Russia, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, China, Israel, Turkey, India | Series: cog
Guest:
Topics:
- Arrest of Imnemnimi Podcasters
- What are the Governmentâs Real Intentions?
- Silence of the West
- Call to All Media: Cover Aggressions Against Freedom of Expression in Armenia!
Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025
Arthur Khachikyan - Imnemnimi Podcasters Arrested, Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia | Ep 485, Nov 14, 2025 [EP485]
Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Russia, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, China, Israel, Turkey, IndiaGuest:
Topics:
- Arrest of Imnemnimi Podcasters
- What are the Governmentâs Real Intentions?
- Silence of the West
- Call to All Media: Cover Aggressions Against Freedom of Expression in Armenia!
Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025