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: "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

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! 🤥

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

Armenian News: April 24 Never Forget | Brussels Meet | Pashinyan in Moscow | Ep #133 - Apr 24, 2022 [EP133]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, Artsakh, Georgia, China, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO, Lebanon | Series: wir

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Armenian News: April 24 Never Forget | Brussels Meet | Pashinyan in Moscow | Ep #133 - Apr 24, 2022 [EP133]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, Artsakh, Georgia, China, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO, Lebanon

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Armenian News: Opposition | Brussels | Alison | Economy | Poll | Artsakh | Ep #132 - Apr 10, 2022 [EP132]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Economy, India, Georgia, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Lebanon, Middle East, NATO, Syria, European Union | Series: wir

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.

  • 00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM

 Read More

Armenian News: Opposition | Brussels | Alison | Economy | Poll | Artsakh | Ep #132 - Apr 10, 2022 [EP132]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Economy, India, Georgia, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Lebanon, Middle East, NATO, Syria, European Union

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.

  • 00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM

 Read More

Armenian News: Ukraine Crisis Update | Parukh - Brussels - Moscow | Ep #131 - Apr 3, 2022 [EP131]

Posted on Monday, Apr 4, 2022 | Category: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, China, Genocide, Artsakh, India, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, European Union | Series: wir

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

Armenian News: Ukraine Crisis Update | Parukh - Brussels - Moscow | Ep #131 - Apr 3, 2022 [EP131]

Posted on Monday, Apr 4, 2022 | Category: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, China, Genocide, Artsakh, India, Human Rights, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, European Union

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

Armenian News: Askeran Incursion | Artsakh Still Without Gas | Pax Azeriana | Ep. 130 - Mar 27, 2022 [EP130]

Posted on Monday, Mar 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, European Union, Iran, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, NATO, Syria | Series: wir

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 27, 2022

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Azerbaijan Incursions into Askeran Region
  • Artsakh Still Without Natural Gas
  • Pax Azeriana

Guest:

Episode 130 | Recorded: Monday, March 28, 2022

Armenian News: Askeran Incursion | Artsakh Still Without Gas | Pax Azeriana | Ep. 130 - Mar 27, 2022 [EP130]

Posted on Monday, Mar 28, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, European Union, Iran, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Genocide, Georgia, Israel, NATO, Syria

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - March 27, 2022

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Azerbaijan Incursions into Askeran Region
  • Artsakh Still Without Natural Gas
  • Pax Azeriana

Guest:

Episode 130 | Recorded: Monday, March 28, 2022