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 491 | Recorded: November 29, 2025
#Venezuela #AmericaFirst #USForeignPolicy #TRIPP #UkraineWar
Episode 491 | Recorded: November 29, 2025
#Venezuela #AmericaFirst #USForeignPolicy #TRIPP #UkraineWar
Episode 490 | Recorded: November 25, 2025
#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #ChristianSolidarityInternational #HumanRightsInArmenia
Episode 490 | Recorded: November 25, 2025
#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #ChristianSolidarityInternational #HumanRightsInArmenia
Episode 489 | Recorded: November 23, 2025
Episode 489 | Recorded: November 23, 2025
Episode 488 | Recorded: November 24, 2025
Episode 488 | Recorded: November 24, 2025
Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025
Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025
Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025
Episode 485 | Recorded: November 14, 2025
Episode 484 | Recorded: November 10, 2025
Episode 484 | Recorded: November 10, 2025
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Episode 478 | Recorded: October 14, 2025
Episode 478 | Recorded: October 14, 2025
Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025
Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 475 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 475 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 474 | Recorded: September 22, 2025
Episode 474 | Recorded: September 22, 2025
Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025
Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025
Episode 472 | Recorded: September 15, 2025
Episode 472 | Recorded: September 15, 2025
Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025
Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025
Episode 470 | Recorded: September 5, 2025
Episode 470 | Recorded: September 5, 2025
Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 467 | Recorded: September 1, 2025
Episode 467 | Recorded: September 1, 2025
Episode 466 | Recorded: August 28, 2025
Episode 466 | Recorded: August 28, 2025
In this episode of Conversations on Groong, renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs joins to discuss the U.S.-brokered “TRIPP” (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), also known as the Zangezur Corridor. The discussion covers the risks of foreign powers imposing corridors through Armenia, the muted response from Moscow, Tehran’s strong opposition, and what this means for regional security. Sachs stresses that Armenia should not look to distant powers like the United States for security or stability, but instead pursue prudent arrangements and economic cooperation with its immediate Read More
Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025
Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025
Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025
Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025
Episode 463 | Recorded: August 18, 2025
Episode 463 | Recorded: August 18, 2025
Episode 462 | Recorded: August 15, 2025
Episode 462 | Recorded: August 15, 2025
Episode 461 | Recorded: August 13, 2025
Episode 461 | Recorded: August 13, 2025
Episode 460 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Episode 460 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Summary In this episode, Christine Arakelian and Col. Douglas MacGregor join the hosts to analyze U.S. foreign policy moves from Gaza to the South Caucasus. They discuss Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the likely resumption of hostilities. The conversation examines the Trump–Pashinyan–Aliyev White House summit, the strategic “Trump Corridor” across Armenia, and its impact on Russia, Iran, and India. The guests explore India–Armenia relations, U.S. economic vulnerabilities, and the challenges of sustaining a long-term American role in the Read More