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 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
Guest:
Topic:
- Azerbaijani Attacks over the Weekend
- East and West
- Armenia and the Rome Statute
Episode 241 | Recorded: March 26, 2023
Pashinyan Press Conference | Belligerent Azerbaijan | Mirzoyan in Moscow | Yerevan Mayor | Ep 240 - Mar 19, 2023 [EP240]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 19, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, Turkey, India, China, Georgia, Israel, Ukraine | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Pashinyanâs Press Conference
- Negotiating with Belligerent Azerbaijan
- Mirzoyan in Moscow
- Mayoral Politics in Yerevan
Episode 240 | Recorded: March 20, 2023
Pashinyan Press Conference | Belligerent Azerbaijan | Mirzoyan in Moscow | Yerevan Mayor | Ep 240 - Mar 19, 2023 [EP240]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 19, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, Turkey, India, China, Georgia, Israel, UkraineGuest:
Topics:
- Pashinyanâs Press Conference
- Negotiating with Belligerent Azerbaijan
- Mirzoyan in Moscow
- Mayoral Politics in Yerevan
Episode 240 | Recorded: March 20, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 239, Mar 19, 2023 [EP239]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 19, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 239, Mar 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- The Current Living Conditions
- Gas, Power, Food, Weather
- Daily Ceasefire Violations
- Shooting at Civilians
- Heightened Threat of War
- Process of Constitutional Amendment
- Is Arayik Harutyunyan Planning to Resign?
- Will the Amendment Go Through?
- Negotiations with Azerbaijan
- Invitation to Negtiate âIntegrationâ in Baku
- Artsakh Demands that Armenia Respect its own Laws
- Artsakh Demands an International Platform for Negotiations
Episode 239 | Recorded: March 19, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 239, Mar 19, 2023 [EP239]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 19, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh BlockadeArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 239, Mar 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- The Current Living Conditions
- Gas, Power, Food, Weather
- Daily Ceasefire Violations
- Shooting at Civilians
- Heightened Threat of War
- Process of Constitutional Amendment
- Is Arayik Harutyunyan Planning to Resign?
- Will the Amendment Go Through?
- Negotiations with Azerbaijan
- Invitation to Negtiate âIntegrationâ in Baku
- Artsakh Demands that Armenia Respect its own Laws
- Artsakh Demands an International Platform for Negotiations
Episode 239 | Recorded: March 19, 2023
Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations | Georgia Opposition | MPG Poll | Ep 237 [EP237]
Posted on Monday, Mar 13, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, Human Rights, India, Iran | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations Continue
- Developments in Artsakh
- No âPeaceâ without âRights and Securityâ?
- Armenia Downgrades CSTO Relations
- Georgian Law on Foreign Agents
- Reflections on MPG Poll âAmotiSarâ Results
Episode 237 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations | Georgia Opposition | MPG Poll | Ep 237 [EP237]
Posted on Monday, Mar 13, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, Human Rights, India, IranGuest:
Topics:
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations Continue
- Developments in Artsakh
- No âPeaceâ without âRights and Securityâ?
- Armenia Downgrades CSTO Relations
- Georgian Law on Foreign Agents
- Reflections on MPG Poll âAmotiSarâ Results
Episode 237 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023 [EP233]
Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Day to day Conditions
- Meeting of Artsakh and Azerbaijani Reps
- What is Artsakh Discussing at the Meeting
- What Concessions are being Discussed?
- New State Minister Gurgen Nersesyan
- More Azeri Shootings in Martakert and Askeran
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023 [EP233]
Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh BlockadeArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Day to day Conditions
- Meeting of Artsakh and Azerbaijani Reps
- What is Artsakh Discussing at the Meeting
- What Concessions are being Discussed?
- New State Minister Gurgen Nersesyan
- More Azeri Shootings in Martakert and Askeran
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023