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.
Armenia-Azerbaijan “Peace Negotiations” Tactics and Goals | October 14, 2022 [EP168]
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, European Union, Israel
Guest:
Topics:
- Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
- How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
- Russia’s Contributions to the process
- Options and Scenarios Going Forwards
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
From ‘revolution’ to war with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan | Ep 164 - Sep 12, 2022 [EP164]
Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Politics, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Iran, Syria, NATO | Series: cog
From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022
Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors
Read MoreFrom ‘revolution’ to war with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan | Ep 164 - Sep 12, 2022 [EP164]
Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Politics, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Iran, Syria, NATOFrom ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022
Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ârevolutionâ to war: deciphering Armeniaâs populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors
Read MoreArtsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle East | Series: wir
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle EastArmenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
Anna Abrahamian: The opposition must impeach | Ep 161 - Aug 29, 2022 [EP161]
Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran | Series: cog
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian
In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.
Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, weâre analyzing what didnât work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for
Read MoreAnna Abrahamian: The opposition must impeach | Ep 161 - Aug 29, 2022 [EP161]
Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, IranArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian
In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.
Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, weâre analyzing what didnât work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for
Read MoreOpposition restart | Berdzor & Aghavno | "Peace Plan" | Military service | Ep 160 - Aug 28, 2022 [EP160]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Iran, Economy, Syria, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: wir
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
- 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
- 34:43 âPeace Planâ coming?
- 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
- 54:15 Rant
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Opposition restart | Berdzor & Aghavno | "Peace Plan" | Military service | Ep 160 - Aug 28, 2022 [EP160]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Iran, Economy, Syria, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, NATOArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
- 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
- 34:43 âPeace Planâ coming?
- 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
- 54:15 Rant
Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022