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.
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
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
Read More35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 226 - Feb 19, 2023 [EP226]
Posted on Monday, Feb 20, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Iran, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, Turkey | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement
- Russia Warns the EU and Armenia
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 226 - Feb 19, 2023 [EP226]
Posted on Monday, Feb 20, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Iran, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, TurkeyGuest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Karabakh Movement
- Russia Warns the EU and Armenia
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]
Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon | Series: wir
Guest:
Topic:
- Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
- FM Lavrovâs Interview to Russian Media
- EU vs CSTO Missions
- Shifting Public Perceptions
- Political Shuffles in Yerevan
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria | Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict | Lavrov Interview | EU and CSTO Missions | Shifting Public Perceptions | Yerevan Political Shuffle | Ep 224 - Feb 12, 2023 [EP224]
Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, India, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, LebanonGuest:
Topic:
- Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
- FM Lavrovâs Interview to Russian Media
- EU vs CSTO Missions
- Shifting Public Perceptions
- Political Shuffles in Yerevan
Episode 224 | Recorded: February 12, 2023
Arthur G Martirosyan | Army Day in Armenia | New EU Civilian Mission to Armenia | Politics of Artsakh Blockade | Ep 219 - Jan 29, 2023 [EP219]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Iran, USA, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Turkey, Ukraine, Israel, Genocide, Georgia, Middle East, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Army Day - January 28
- Events at Yerablur
- New EU Monitoring Mission
- Armenia’s Diplomacy
- Russia’s Increasing Displeasure
- Iran’s Tempered Displeasure
- Artsakh Blockade
Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023
Arthur G Martirosyan | Army Day in Armenia | New EU Civilian Mission to Armenia | Politics of Artsakh Blockade | Ep 219 - Jan 29, 2023 [EP219]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Iran, USA, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Turkey, Ukraine, Israel, Genocide, Georgia, Middle East, NATOGuest:
Topics:
- Army Day - January 28
- Events at Yerablur
- New EU Monitoring Mission
- Armenia’s Diplomacy
- Russia’s Increasing Displeasure
- Iran’s Tempered Displeasure
- Artsakh Blockade
Episode 219 | Recorded: January 29, 2023
Karen Vrtanesyan: Catastrophe in Azat [EP214]
Posted on Monday, Jan 23, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Economy, NATO | Series: cog
Conversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023
On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.
Guest:
Topics:
- Conditions in the Armenian Army
- Information chaos following the incident
- Beheading of the 2nd Army Corps
Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023
Karen Vrtanesyan: Catastrophe in Azat [EP214]
Posted on Monday, Jan 23, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Economy, NATOConversations on Groong - Jan 22, 2023
On January 19, 15 conscripts in the village of Azat, Armenia died in a fire that engulfed their temporary makeshift barracks.
Guest:
Topics:
- Conditions in the Armenian Army
- Information chaos following the incident
- Beheading of the 2nd Army Corps
Episode 214 | Recorded: January 22, 2023