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.
Developments in Regional Geopolitics and Censorship Laws | Ep #146 - July 10, 2022 [EP146]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, India, Georgia, Israel, China, Economy, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Middle East
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
- 47:53 Watch your Internets!
- 55:58 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
OSCE MG | Aparan Murders | Vanetsyan Resigns | Jhangiryan Doesn’t | Ep #144 - Jun 26, 2022 [EP144]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2022 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Turkey, China, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:08 Who killed the OSCE Minsk Group?
- 21:36 Murders in Aparan
- 27:01 Arthur Vanetsyan Resigns from Parliament
- 38:51 Gagik Jhangiryan in the Line of Fire
- 44:39 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html
OSCE MG | Aparan Murders | Vanetsyan Resigns | Jhangiryan Doesn’t | Ep #144 - Jun 26, 2022 [EP144]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2022 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Turkey, China, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:08 Who killed the OSCE Minsk Group?
- 21:36 Murders in Aparan
- 27:01 Arthur Vanetsyan Resigns from Parliament
- 38:51 Gagik Jhangiryan in the Line of Fire
- 44:39 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html
Armenian News: Opposition | Jhangiryan Scandal | Peace Talks, Shootings | Ep #143 - Jun 19, 2022 [EP143]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Artsakh, China, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
- 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
- 34:31 More Artsakh âPeaceâ Talks, More Border Shootings
- 52:32 Rants
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan / Ô¹Õ¥ÖÕ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News: Opposition | Jhangiryan Scandal | Peace Talks, Shootings | Ep #143 - Jun 19, 2022 [EP143]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Artsakh, China, Russia, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
- 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
- 34:31 More Artsakh âPeaceâ Talks, More Border Shootings
- 52:32 Rants
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan / Ô¹Õ¥ÖÕ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News: Opp Politics | Lavrov | War Dividends | Caucasus Barometer | Ep #142 - Jun 12, 2022 [EP142]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Human Rights | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
Topics:
- The Opposition Activates Politics
- Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
- War Dividends
- Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways
Guest:
- Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq
Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News: Opp Politics | Lavrov | War Dividends | Caucasus Barometer | Ep #142 - Jun 12, 2022 [EP142]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Human RightsGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
Topics:
- The Opposition Activates Politics
- Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
- War Dividends
- Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways
Guest:
- Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq
Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News: Yerevan Protests Grow | Artsakh Negotiations | New MPG Poll | Ep #141 - Jun 5, 2022 [EP141]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 7, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
- 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
- 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
- 44:14 Rants
Guests:
Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News: Yerevan Protests Grow | Artsakh Negotiations | New MPG Poll | Ep #141 - Jun 5, 2022 [EP141]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 7, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European UnionGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
- 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
- 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
- 44:14 Rants
Guests:
Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022