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.
Edgar Ghazaryan: Էդգար Ղազարյանը, Արցախում քաղաքական զարգացումների մասին [EP207]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, In Armenian, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade | Series: cog
Edgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Guest/ÕÕµÕ¸ÖÖÕ¨:
Topics:
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Edgar Ghazaryan: Էդգար Ղազարյանը, Արցախում քաղաքական զարգացումների մասին [EP207]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, In Armenian, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh BlockadeEdgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Guest/ÕÕµÕ¸ÖÖÕ¨:
Topics:
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian | Artsakh Blockade | Pashinyan Press Conference | Ministry of Interior Appointments | Artsakh Foreign Minister | Armenia Economy Outlook 2023 | Ep 206 - Jan 15, 2023 [EP206]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Economy, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Georgia, India, European Union, Israel, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
- Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.
Topics:
- Artsakh Update and Politics in Stepanakert
- Pashinyanâs âPress Conferenceâ
- Ministry of Interior Affairs Appointments
- Economic Review and Outlook in 2023
- Personal Comments
- Hrant - MPG polls results on Armenian Attitudes towards Russia
- Hovik - Stop the destructive internal politics
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian | Artsakh Blockade | Pashinyan Press Conference | Ministry of Interior Appointments | Artsakh Foreign Minister | Armenia Economy Outlook 2023 | Ep 206 - Jan 15, 2023 [EP206]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Economy, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Georgia, India, European Union, Israel, NATOGuest:
- Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.
Topics:
- Artsakh Update and Politics in Stepanakert
- Pashinyanâs âPress Conferenceâ
- Ministry of Interior Affairs Appointments
- Economic Review and Outlook in 2023
- Personal Comments
- Hrant - MPG polls results on Armenian Attitudes towards Russia
- Hovik - Stop the destructive internal politics
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
William Bairamian, Arthur Khachikyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 31 [EP199]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Diaspora, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Azerbaijan, NATO, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, European Union, China, Genocide, Middle East | Series: cog, video
Guests:
- William Bairamian , founder and editor of The Armenite. He has written extensively on Armenian politics, culture, and society. He received degrees in international affairs from Columbia University and UCLA.
- Arthur Khachikyan , International Relations expert from Stanford University, specializing in Intervention. He currently teaches at the Russian Armenian University in Yerevan.
âThis is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.â -Arthur Khachikyan
Topic:
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)
Read MoreWilliam Bairamian, Arthur Khachikyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 31 [EP199]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Diaspora, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Azerbaijan, NATO, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, European Union, China, Genocide, Middle EastGuests:
- William Bairamian , founder and editor of The Armenite. He has written extensively on Armenian politics, culture, and society. He received degrees in international affairs from Columbia University and UCLA.
- Arthur Khachikyan , International Relations expert from Stanford University, specializing in Intervention. He currently teaches at the Russian Armenian University in Yerevan.
âThis is a repeat of Srebrenica. To gradually strangle and force the people to leave.â -Arthur Khachikyan
Topic:
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh)
Read MoreVaruzhan Geghamyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 11 [EP191]
Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria, Ukraine, European Union, Middle East, India | Series: cog, video
“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
Guest:
Topic:
- We continue our coverage of the crisis in Artsakh by developments in the UN Security Council as well as Turkish and Iranian concerns in the region.
- More than 120 thousand people, including 30 thousand children, are under siege. Today is the 11th day of the crisis.
- This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between ANN/Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian
Varuzhan Geghamyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 11 [EP191]
Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria, Ukraine, European Union, Middle East, India“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
Guest:
Topic:
- We continue our coverage of the crisis in Artsakh by developments in the UN Security Council as well as Turkish and Iranian concerns in the region.
- More than 120 thousand people, including 30 thousand children, are under siege. Today is the 11th day of the crisis.
- This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between ANN/Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian
Hayk Mamijanyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 10 [EP189]
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 21, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, European Union | Series: cog, video
“Armenia has to draw a red line - Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan” -Hayk Mamijanyan
Guest:
- Hayk Mamijanyan is the leader of the oppositional Pativ Unem (With Honor) alliance in the Armenian National Assembly, and a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).
Topic:
This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.
This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links:
- 168 Hours: https://168.am