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.
Armenian News: Russia Geopolitics | Armenia Russia Rels | Israel & Armenia | Ep #140 - May 29, 2022 [EP140]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2022 | Category: Russia, Armenia, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Syria, Middle East, Economy, Geopolitics, Georgia, Artsakh, China, Genocide, India, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022
Topics:
00:00 Introduction
02:27 Russiaâs Geopolitics: Weâll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russiaâs endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.
23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.
42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guestâs area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this
Armenian News: Russia Geopolitics | Armenia Russia Rels | Israel & Armenia | Ep #140 - May 29, 2022 [EP140]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2022 | Category: Russia, Armenia, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Syria, Middle East, Economy, Geopolitics, Georgia, Artsakh, China, Genocide, India, Nagorno Karabakh, NATOGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 29, 2022
Topics:
00:00 Introduction
02:27 Russiaâs Geopolitics: Weâll get an update on the war as well as trying to understand what Russiaâs endgame is in Ukraine and how it may affect our region.
23:10 Armenia-Russia Relations: Next, we try to understand the dynamics of Armenia-Russian relations as well as the outlook for the future.
42:38 Israeli Interests and Armenia: Lastly, taking advantage of our guestâs area of expertise, we look at Israeli-Armenian relations, the history of failures in this
Armenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human Rights | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human RightsGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenia News: Yerevan Protests | Armenia Responds | Lebanon Elections 2022 | Ep #137 - May 15, 2022 [EP137]
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Iran, Turkey, Economy, Armenian Church, China, Georgia, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
- 18:19 5 + 6: Armeniaâs âResponseâ to Azerbaijan
- 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022
Guests:
- Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
- Arthur G. Martirosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html
Armenia News: Yerevan Protests | Armenia Responds | Lebanon Elections 2022 | Ep #137 - May 15, 2022 [EP137]
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Iran, Turkey, Economy, Armenian Church, China, Georgia, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
- 18:19 5 + 6: Armeniaâs âResponseâ to Azerbaijan
- 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022
Guests:
- Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
- Arthur G. Martirosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html
Armenian News: Protests Growing | FM Mirzoyan in DC | Normalization ROUnd 3 | Ep #135 - May 8, 2022 [EP135]
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, European Union | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
- 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
- 38:38 Normalization Round 3
- 52:25 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News: Protests Growing | FM Mirzoyan in DC | Normalization ROUnd 3 | Ep #135 - May 8, 2022 [EP135]
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, European UnionGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
- 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
- 38:38 Normalization Round 3
- 52:25 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News: "Peace Agenda" | Accident | Civil Disobedience | Insult Law | Ep #134 - May 1, 2022 [EP134]
Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh, Genocide, Ukraine, Economy, China, Human Rights, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, NATO | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 1, 2022
Topics:
- “Peace Agenda” in Motion
- It’s not the Crime, It’s the Cover Up
- Opposition Initiates Civil Disobedience
- What a Nice PM Armenia Has! ð¤¥
Guest:
- Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 134 | Recorded: Monday, May 2, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220501.html