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.
35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 232 - Feb 26, 2023 [EP232]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, China, NATO, Syria, Genocide, Georgia | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms
- Turkey after the Earthquake
- One Year Anniversary of the War in Ukraine
- Azerbaijan-Armenian Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 232 - Feb 26, 2023 [EP232]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, China, NATO, Syria, Genocide, GeorgiaGuest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms
- Turkey after the Earthquake
- One Year Anniversary of the War in Ukraine
- Azerbaijan-Armenian Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Anna Abrahamian: Munich Security Conference | Artsakh [EP230]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Economy, Syria, European Union, Georgia, Middle East | Series: cog, video
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
- The Munich Security Conference 2023.
- Weâll touch on Russian president Putinâs state of the federation address.
- The latest political developments in Artsakh.
Guest:
- Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her
Anna Abrahamian: Munich Security Conference | Artsakh [EP230]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Economy, Syria, European Union, Georgia, Middle EastToday weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
- The Munich Security Conference 2023.
- Weâll touch on Russian president Putinâs state of the federation address.
- The latest political developments in Artsakh.
Guest:
- Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023 [EP231]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Rouben Vardanyan sacked in Stepanakert
- Samuel Babayan in Artsakh
- Azeri and Artsakh reps meet to resume Gas & Electricity
- Further Azeri demands, Artsakh red lines
- Medical topics
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023 [EP231]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, ArmeniaArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Rouben Vardanyan sacked in Stepanakert
- Samuel Babayan in Artsakh
- Azeri and Artsakh reps meet to resume Gas & Electricity
- Further Azeri demands, Artsakh red lines
- Medical topics
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Artur Papyan: Cyber Laws and Threats in Armenia [EP229]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Technology, Media, Azerbaijan, Israel, Human Rights | Series: cog, video
In this Conversations on Groong episode, we’ll be talking about the Internet censorship bill proposed in Armenia before the new year. We’ll also talk about the threat and activity of some Cyber spying malware in Armenia, such as the Israeli Pegasus software, which represents a threat to journalists and freedom of expression.
Topics:
- Censoring the Internet
- Cyberthreats and Cyberspying in Armenia
Guest: Artur Papyan , malware researcher, digital security consultant, co-founder of CyberHub and director of the Media DIversity Institute .
Episode 229 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Artur Papyan: Cyber Laws and Threats in Armenia [EP229]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Technology, Media, Azerbaijan, Israel, Human RightsIn this Conversations on Groong episode, we’ll be talking about the Internet censorship bill proposed in Armenia before the new year. We’ll also talk about the threat and activity of some Cyber spying malware in Armenia, such as the Israeli Pegasus software, which represents a threat to journalists and freedom of expression.
Topics:
- Censoring the Internet
- Cyberthreats and Cyberspying in Armenia
Guest: Artur Papyan , malware researcher, digital security consultant, co-founder of CyberHub and director of the Media DIversity Institute .
Episode 229 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Suren Sargsyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 72 [EP228]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, 168am, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Middle East | Series: cog, video
Guests:
- Suren Sargsyan , founder and a President at the Armenian Center for American Studies, a research center based in Yerevan.
“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Topic:
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
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