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.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel and Iran
  • Crackdown on the Opposition
  • Pashinyan in Istanbul
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel and Iran
  • Crackdown on the Opposition
  • Pashinyan in Istanbul
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia legalizes round-the-clock surveillance.
  • Law enables political targeting, critics warn.
  • No oversight, no privacy laws.
  • Silence from Armenia’s new geopolitical allies.

Episode 446 | Recorded: June 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia legalizes round-the-clock surveillance.
  • Law enables political targeting, critics warn.
  • No oversight, no privacy laws.
  • Silence from Armenia’s new geopolitical allies.

Episode 446 | Recorded: June 12, 2025

In this episode of Groong: Spotlight on Silence, we speak with Rafael Ishkhanyan of the Armenian Center for Political Rights about Armenia’s sweeping new surveillance law. Passed quietly in March 2025, the law grants police 24/7 access to camera networks across public institutions and allows for real-time facial recognition, raising deep concerns about privacy, political targeting, and unchecked state power. We explore what the law says, what it leaves out, and why international silence—despite clear risks to civil liberties—has been so striking.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine’s War, Poland’s Pivot?
  • Status Check on the Economy
  • RPA Names PM Candidate
  • Armenia’s Demographic Threats
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 444 | Recorded: June 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine’s War, Poland’s Pivot?
  • Status Check on the Economy
  • RPA Names PM Candidate
  • Armenia’s Demographic Threats
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 444 | Recorded: June 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
  • Hakan Fidan in Moscow
  • Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
  • Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
  • Impeachment vs. Elections
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
  • Hakan Fidan in Moscow
  • Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
  • Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
  • Impeachment vs. Elections
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

INTERVIEW IN ARMENIAN / ՀԱՐՑԱԶՐՈՒՅՑ ՀԱՅԵՐԵՆ

Guest:

Topics:

  • Criminal charges used to silence Edgar Ghazaryan / Քրեական մեղադրանքներ՝ Էդգար Ղազարյանին լռեցնելու համար
  • Media freedom in Armenia under Pashinyan’s rule / Մամուլի ազատությունը Հայաստանում Փաշինյանի կառավարման օրոք
  • Public broadcasting under political control / Հանրային հեռարձակումը քաղաքական վերահսկողության տակ
  • State-aligned actors spreading misinformation / Ապատեղեկատվություն տարածող պետական կողմի դերակատարները

Episode 440 | Recorded: March 9, 2025

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INTERVIEW IN ARMENIAN / ՀԱՐՑԱԶՐՈՒՅՑ ՀԱՅԵՐԵՆ

Guest:

Topics:

  • Criminal charges used to silence Edgar Ghazaryan / Քրեական մեղադրանքներ՝ Էդգար Ղազարյանին լռեցնելու համար
  • Media freedom in Armenia under Pashinyan’s rule / Մամուլի ազատությունը Հայաստանում Փաշինյանի կառավարման օրոք
  • Public broadcasting under political control / Հանրային հեռարձակումը քաղաքական վերահսկողության տակ
  • State-aligned actors spreading misinformation / Ապատեղեկատվություն տարածող պետական կողմի դերակատարները

Episode 440 | Recorded: March 9, 2025

 Read More

Guest:

  • Levon Zourabian , Vice-President of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party of Armenia.

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Russia and Ukraine
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenian Elections in 2026

Episode 439 | Recorded: May 23, 2025

Guest:

  • Levon Zourabian , Vice-President of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party of Armenia.

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Russia and Ukraine
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenian Elections in 2026

Episode 439 | Recorded: May 23, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in Tirana
  • Russia’s Lavrov in Yerevan
  • Democracy in Jeopardy
  • Armenia’s Demilitarization by Any Other Name
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 438 | Recorded: May 21, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in Tirana
  • Russia’s Lavrov in Yerevan
  • Democracy in Jeopardy
  • Armenia’s Demilitarization by Any Other Name
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 438 | Recorded: May 21, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Pezeshkian Visit to Baku
  • Iran-Armenia Relations
  • US Support for Azerbaijan

Episode 437 | Recorded: May 16, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Pezeshkian Visit to Baku
  • Iran-Armenia Relations
  • US Support for Azerbaijan

Episode 437 | Recorded: May 16, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 9, Victory Day and Parade
  • Pashinyan, Aliyev Posture at Victory Day
  • Artsrun Hovhannisyan’s Historical Revision
  • Armenia and Artsakh Contributions to WW2

Episode 436 | Recorded: May 15, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 9, Victory Day and Parade
  • Pashinyan, Aliyev Posture at Victory Day
  • Artsrun Hovhannisyan’s Historical Revision
  • Armenia and Artsakh Contributions to WW2

Episode 436 | Recorded: May 15, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 9 Victory Parade
  • Ukraine
  • India and Pakistan
  • Armenian Azerbaijani Talks
  • American Pope

Episode 435 | Recorded: May 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 9 Victory Parade
  • Ukraine
  • India and Pakistan
  • Armenian Azerbaijani Talks
  • American Pope

Episode 435 | Recorded: May 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran Sanctions Escalate Amid Tensions
  • Journalist Beaten Inside Yerevan Office
  • Moscow Celebrates Victory Day Parade
  • Armenia Caught Between EU and Russia

Episode 434 | Recorded: May 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran Sanctions Escalate Amid Tensions
  • Journalist Beaten Inside Yerevan Office
  • Moscow Celebrates Victory Day Parade
  • Armenia Caught Between EU and Russia

Episode 434 | Recorded: May 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Vatican’s alliance with Azerbaijan
  • Whitewashing of Artsakh’s ethnic cleansing
  • Global silence on Armenian Genocide
  • U.S. policy under Trump and risks to Armenia

Episode 431 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Vatican’s alliance with Azerbaijan
  • Whitewashing of Artsakh’s ethnic cleansing
  • Global silence on Armenian Genocide
  • U.S. policy under Trump and risks to Armenia

Episode 431 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Iran-Armenia Military Exercises
  • Armenian Villages Terrorized by Azerbaijan
  • Mirzoyan in Antalya
  • Armenia’s Genocide Denial

Episode 428 | Recorded: April 14, 2025

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Iran-Armenia Military Exercises
  • Armenian Villages Terrorized by Azerbaijan
  • Mirzoyan in Antalya
  • Armenia’s Genocide Denial

Episode 428 | Recorded: April 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Iran Escalation
  • Aftermath of Gyumri and Parakar
  • MFA blames Artsakh for Regional Isolation
  • Bullets and Peace

Episode 426 | Recorded: April 8, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Iran Escalation
  • Aftermath of Gyumri and Parakar
  • MFA blames Artsakh for Regional Isolation
  • Bullets and Peace

Episode 426 | Recorded: April 8, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump’s Iran ultimatum explored
  • Turkey’s protests seen as strategic
  • Azerbaijan’s peace deal as smokescreen
  • Armenia’s Westward drift analyzed
  • Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump’s Iran ultimatum explored
  • Turkey’s protests seen as strategic
  • Azerbaijan’s peace deal as smokescreen
  • Armenia’s Westward drift analyzed
  • Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
  • Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
  • Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
  • Witkoff’s Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
  • Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
  • Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
  • Witkoff’s Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications – The second round of Abkhazia’s presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunba’s victory means for the region.
  • Armenian Hostages in Baku – Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
  • Protests in Yerevan Over POWs – Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.
 Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications – The second round of Abkhazia’s presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunba’s victory means for the region.
  • Armenian Hostages in Baku – Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
  • Protests in Yerevan Over POWs – Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.
 Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Jean-Daniel Ruch’s Career & Background
  • The Role of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution
  • Western Democracy Promotion & Geopolitical Power Plays
  • The War in Ukraine & Failed Peace Efforts
  • US & European Geopolitical Strategies
  • The International Criminal Court & Selective Justice
  • The Artsakh Conflict & Armenian Displacement

Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Jean-Daniel Ruch’s Career & Background
  • The Role of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution
  • Western Democracy Promotion & Geopolitical Power Plays
  • The War in Ukraine & Failed Peace Efforts
  • US & European Geopolitical Strategies
  • The International Criminal Court & Selective Justice
  • The Artsakh Conflict & Armenian Displacement

Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
  • Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
  • Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
  • Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
  • Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
  • Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
  • Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

A New Détente? The Trump-Putin Call. Russia’s Strategic Choices. Russo-Armenian Relations. Russo-Azerbaijani Relations. Georgia’s Pragmatism.

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in DC
  • Trump Sanctions the ICC
  • Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action
  • Workers Strike at Zangezur Mining Co.

Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in DC
  • Trump Sanctions the ICC
  • Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action
  • Workers Strike at Zangezur Mining Co.

Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Effects of the Shutdown of USAID
  • Georgia and the EU
  • Georgia and the South Caucasus

Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Effects of the Shutdown of USAID
  • Georgia and the EU
  • Georgia and the South Caucasus

Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating Tanks
  • Russia Azerbaijan Relations Deteriorating
  • Armenia’s Strategic Geopolitical Balancing
  • Azerbaijan and the “Zangezur Corridor”

Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating Tanks
  • Russia Azerbaijan Relations Deteriorating
  • Armenia’s Strategic Geopolitical Balancing
  • Azerbaijan and the “Zangezur Corridor”

Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Mirzoyan in Moscow
  • Vahan Kostanyan in Tehran
  • Mher Grigoryan on the Border (concessions)
  • FIS Annual Report 2025
  • The Silence of the Lambs

Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Mirzoyan in Moscow
  • Vahan Kostanyan in Tehran
  • Mher Grigoryan on the Border (concessions)
  • FIS Annual Report 2025
  • The Silence of the Lambs

Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025