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.

POWs | War Commission | Degrading Democracy | Lukashenko | MPG poll | Ep #119 - Feb 13, 2022 [EP119]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Israel, USA, Economy, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Geopolitics, Lebanon, NATO, Syria

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
  • 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
  • 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
  • 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
  • 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
  • 01:18:51 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

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

Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html

Ukraine Crisis | Vahagn Khachatryan for President | New IRI Poll Results | Ep #118 - Feb 6, 2022 [EP118]

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, China, Azerbaijan, Genocide, India, Economy, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:10 The Continuing Ukraine Crisis
    • Putin in Beijing, Erdogan in Kyiv, Pashinyan at Olympic Diplomacy?
  • 23:44 Civil Contract Nominates Vahagn Khachatryan for President
  • 41:21 New IRI Poll Results
  • 58:57 Rants

Guests:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html

Ukraine Crisis | Vahagn Khachatryan for President | New IRI Poll Results | Ep #118 - Feb 6, 2022 [EP118]

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, China, Azerbaijan, Genocide, India, Economy, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 6, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:10 The Continuing Ukraine Crisis
    • Putin in Beijing, Erdogan in Kyiv, Pashinyan at Olympic Diplomacy?
  • 23:44 Civil Contract Nominates Vahagn Khachatryan for President
  • 41:21 New IRI Poll Results
  • 58:57 Rants

Guests:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Episode 118 | Recorded: Sunday, February 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220206.html

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]

Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, China, Iran | Series: cog

Guest(s):

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO. Իրավական ուղի in Armenian.

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Decisions of the International Court of Justice
  • Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • More Constitutional Changes
  • Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
  • Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
 Read More

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia - Ruben Melikyan | Ep #117 - Feb 4, 2022 [EP117]

Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Turkey, China, Iran

Guest(s):

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO. Իրավական ուղի in Armenian.

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Decisions of the International Court of Justice
  • Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • More Constitutional Changes
  • Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
  • Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
 Read More

Ukraine | Antalya | Army Day in Armenia | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ep #116 - Jan 30, 2022 [EP116]

Posted on Monday, Jan 31, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, Ukraine, Armenian Genocide, Economy, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Human Rights, USA, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:43 Game of Chicken over Ukraine
  • 08:17 Antalya Diplomatic Forum
  • 22:54 Army Day in Armenia
  • 27:54 Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • 31:11 Rants/Announcements

Guests:

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html

Ukraine | Antalya | Army Day in Armenia | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ep #116 - Jan 30, 2022 [EP116]

Posted on Monday, Jan 31, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, Ukraine, Armenian Genocide, Economy, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Human Rights, USA, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO

ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 30, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:43 Game of Chicken over Ukraine
  • 08:17 Antalya Diplomatic Forum
  • 22:54 Army Day in Armenia
  • 27:54 Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • 31:11 Rants/Announcements

Guests:

Guest(s):

Hosts:

Episode 116 | Recorded: Sunday, January 30, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220130.html

President Resigns | Ukraine Standoff | Vahan Kerobyan, Min of Comedy | Ep #114 - Jan 23, 2022 [EP114]

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 26, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Turkey, USA, Iran, India, NATO, European Union | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:04 President Armen Sarkissian Resigns
  • 20:46 Russia-NATO Standoff over Ukraine
  • 47:55 Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Comedy

Guests:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan twitter.com/HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian twitter.com/qubriq

Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022

President Resigns | Ukraine Standoff | Vahan Kerobyan, Min of Comedy | Ep #114 - Jan 23, 2022 [EP114]

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 26, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Turkey, USA, Iran, India, NATO, European Union

ANN/Groong Week in Review - January 23, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:04 President Armen Sarkissian Resigns
  • 20:46 Russia-NATO Standoff over Ukraine
  • 47:55 Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Comedy

Guests:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan twitter.com/HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian twitter.com/qubriq

Episode 114 | Recorded: Sunday, January 25, 2022