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.
Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATOGuest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Armenian Genocide Anniversary | Artsakh In Stranglehold | Israel-Azerbaijan [EP249]
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, China, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Middle East, Syria, Ukraine, European Union | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
- Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
- Artsakh Strangled
- International Community
- Pashinyanâs Parliament Speech
- Madrid Principles
- Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
- What Can Diaspora Do?
- Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
- Rants
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Armenian Genocide Anniversary | Artsakh In Stranglehold | Israel-Azerbaijan [EP249]
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, China, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Middle East, Syria, Ukraine, European UnionGuest:
Topics:
- Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
- Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
- Artsakh Strangled
- International Community
- Pashinyanâs Parliament Speech
- Madrid Principles
- Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
- What Can Diaspora Do?
- Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
- Rants
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Anna Kostanyan - New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan | Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia | Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections [EP248]
Posted on Sunday, Apr 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Human Rights, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, China, Economy | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Intro to Anna Kostanyan and Hamakhmbum (Consolidation) Movement
- New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan
- Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia
- Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections
Episode 248 | Recorded: April 16, 2023
Anna Kostanyan - New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan | Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia | Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections [EP248]
Posted on Sunday, Apr 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Human Rights, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, China, EconomyGuest:
Topics:
- Intro to Anna Kostanyan and Hamakhmbum (Consolidation) Movement
- New HR Ombudswoman Anahit Manasyan
- Azeri Attacks and Infiltrations into Armenia
- Yerevan Mayor-less Until End of 2023 Elections
Episode 248 | Recorded: April 16, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 246, Apr 12, 2023 [EP246]
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Israel | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 246, Apr 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - April 12, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- April 11 Azeri Aggression
near Tegh
- What Agency does Artsakh have in keeping links open?
- Bothsidism of EU and Russia in the face of Azeri Aggression
- Who is to Blame for the Continuing Losses in Armenian Life?
- Reaction of the Armenian Government
- About the EU Mission and its Role and Effectiveness
- Stepanakert invites Baku to talks
- Artsakh Farmers Urged to work in Russian Presence
Episode 246 | Recorded: April 12, 2023
Read MoreArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 246, Apr 12, 2023 [EP246]
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, IsraelArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 246, Apr 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - April 12, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- April 11 Azeri Aggression
near Tegh
- What Agency does Artsakh have in keeping links open?
- Bothsidism of EU and Russia in the face of Azeri Aggression
- Who is to Blame for the Continuing Losses in Armenian Life?
- Reaction of the Armenian Government
- About the EU Mission and its Role and Effectiveness
- Stepanakert invites Baku to talks
- Artsakh Farmers Urged to work in Russian Presence
Episode 246 | Recorded: April 12, 2023
Read MoreAzerbaijan Attacks Artsakh | East West Negotiation Platforms | Armenia and the Rome Statute | Ep 241 - Mar 26, 2023 [EP241]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, India, Ukraine, China, Geopolitics, Economy, NATO, Iran, Turkey | Series: wir
Guest:
Topic:
- Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
- East and West
- Armenia and the Rome Statute
Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023