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.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan & Co. Shun Artsakh Independence
- Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Reconstituted?
- Afghanistan: Taliban 2.0?
- State of World Affairs
- State of Political Analysis
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian TW/@AsbedK
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
Pashinyan Shuns NK | TARC 2.0 | Taliban 2.0 | World Affairs & Pol Analysis | Ep #88 - Sep 5, 2021 [EP88]
Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Economy, Iran, Azerbaijan, China, Ukraine, Genocide, Syria, Israel, Armenian Genocide, NATOANN/Groong Week in Review - September 5, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan & Co. Shun Artsakh Independence
- Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Reconstituted?
- Afghanistan: Taliban 2.0?
- State of World Affairs
- State of Political Analysis
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian TW/@AsbedK
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode #88 | Recorded: September 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210905.html
5-year plan | Russia Arming Armenia | Press Freedoms Cut | PaneliTopics | Ep #86 - August 22, 2021 [EP86]
Posted on Monday, Aug 23, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Georgia, Iran, Economy, Syria, Israel, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021
Topics:
- The Governmentâs 5-Year Plan
- Is Russia Rearming Armenia? Artsakh?
- Press Freedoms Curtailed in Parliament
- Topics from the Panelists
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq
Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html
5-year plan | Russia Arming Armenia | Press Freedoms Cut | PaneliTopics | Ep #86 - August 22, 2021 [EP86]
Posted on Monday, Aug 23, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Georgia, Iran, Economy, Syria, Israel, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European UnionANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021
Topics:
- The Governmentâs 5-Year Plan
- Is Russia Rearming Armenia? Artsakh?
- Press Freedoms Curtailed in Parliament
- Topics from the Panelists
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq
Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html
Lebanon | Afghanistan | Armenian Parliament | Artsakh | Ep #85 - Aug 15, 2021 [EP85]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, China, Syria, Artsakh, Middle East, Economy, Genocide, Human Rights, India, Israel, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 15, 2021
Topics:
- Lebanon in Crisis
- Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
- 8th Convocation of the Parliament
- Developments around Artsakh
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian - https://twitter.com/AsbedK
- Katia Peltekian - https://twitter.com/KatiaPeltekian
- Benyamin Poghosyan - https://twitter.com/BeniaminPoghosyan
Asbed Kotchikian is an Associate Professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia.
Benyamin Poghosyan is the chairman of the Center For Political and Economic Strategic Studies, a Yerevan based think tank. He was
Read MoreLebanon | Afghanistan | Armenian Parliament | Artsakh | Ep #85 - Aug 15, 2021 [EP85]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, China, Syria, Artsakh, Middle East, Economy, Genocide, Human Rights, India, Israel, Nagorno Karabakh, NATOANN/Groong Week in Review - August 15, 2021
Topics:
- Lebanon in Crisis
- Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
- 8th Convocation of the Parliament
- Developments around Artsakh
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian - https://twitter.com/AsbedK
- Katia Peltekian - https://twitter.com/KatiaPeltekian
- Benyamin Poghosyan - https://twitter.com/BeniaminPoghosyan
Asbed Kotchikian is an Associate Professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia.
Benyamin Poghosyan is the chairman of the Center For Political and Economic Strategic Studies, a Yerevan based think tank. He was
Read MorePutin / Pashinyan | Const. Court | Steel out of Velvet | Year-in-Review (Ep #78) - July 11, 2021 [EP78]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Economy, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, Syria, Genocide, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
Topics:
- Putin / Pashinyan meeting
- Constitutional Court Challenge
- Forging Steel out of Velvet
- Groong Podcastâs Year-in-Review
Guests: Asbed Kotchikian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
Putin / Pashinyan | Const. Court | Steel out of Velvet | Year-in-Review (Ep #78) - July 11, 2021 [EP78]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 13, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Economy, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, Syria, Genocide, Middle East, Nagorno Karabakh, NATOANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
Topics:
- Putin / Pashinyan meeting
- Constitutional Court Challenge
- Forging Steel out of Velvet
- Groong Podcastâs Year-in-Review
Guests: Asbed Kotchikian
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
Armenian Elections Recap | Protests in Artsakh | (Ep #76) - June 27, 2021 [EP76]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Economy, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:
- Armenian Elections Recap
- Protests in Artsakh
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian
- Emil Sanamyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html