Tag: Nikol Pashinyan
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Nikol Pashinyan has been a central figure in Groong’s coverage since the podcast launched. 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. His time in office has been defined by Armenia’s devastating loss in the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, a fraught relationship with Russia, and a gradual reorientation of Armenian foreign policy toward the European Union and the United States.
Groong episodes featuring Pashinyan as a subject cover a wide range of topics: his political survival after the 2020 war, domestic opposition from the Hayastan Dashinq alliance, Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno Karabakh, and his government’s changing positions on CSTO membership and relations with Moscow.
ANN Groong Week in Review - Episode 52 - Feb 28, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Wait, Did Armenia Use the Iskander to Blow Up its Relations With Russia?
- Wait, Was There a Coup?
- The Opposition Picks up Steam
- Wait, was The 737 Hijacked?
Guests:
- David Davidian
- George Tabakian
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210228.html Episode 52 | Recorded: February 28, 2021
Sargsyan Interview | Criminalizing Defamation | Martial Law? | Protests 2/20/21 | Govsagan (Ep #51) [EP51]
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Armenian Church, Human Rights, Iran | Series: WIR
ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
Topics Covered:
- President Sargsyanâs Interview
- Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
- Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
- Opposition Protests on Feb 20
- Govsagan, in the end
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
- Marine Manucharyan @armoland
- @Emil_Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
- Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
Sargsyan Interview | Criminalizing Defamation | Martial Law? | Protests 2/20/21 | Govsagan (Ep #51) [EP51]
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Armenian Church, Human Rights, IranANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021
Topics Covered:
- President Sargsyanâs Interview
- Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
- Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
- Opposition Protests on Feb 20
- Govsagan, in the end
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
- Marine Manucharyan @armoland
- @Emil_Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
- Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021
Lost in Artsakh | Law on Mass Media | Political Scene in Yerevan | Economic Outlook (Ep #48) [EP48]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh, Economy, Iran, China, Turkey | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
- Amending the Law on Mass Media
- Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
- Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates
Guests
- Hrant Mikaelian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
Lost in Artsakh | Law on Mass Media | Political Scene in Yerevan | Economic Outlook (Ep #48) [EP48]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh, Economy, Iran, China, TurkeyANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
- Amending the Law on Mass Media
- Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
- Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates
Guests
- Hrant Mikaelian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
Constitutional Amendment | Opp Rising | Zarif Tour | Virus Update | Armenia Fund & the Dram (Ep #47) [EP47]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Economy, Israel, Russia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Turkey | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Another Constitutional Amendment?
- Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
- Iranâs FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
- State of the Virus in Armenia
- Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Your Hosts:
- Alen Zamanyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
Constitutional Amendment | Opp Rising | Zarif Tour | Virus Update | Armenia Fund & the Dram (Ep #47) [EP47]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Economy, Israel, Russia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, TurkeyANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Another Constitutional Amendment?
- Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
- Iranâs FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
- State of the Virus in Armenia
- Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Your Hosts:
- Alen Zamanyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
Armen Ashotyan - Opposition Talks | Ep 44, Jan 19, 2021 [EP44]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog
Groong Links:
Guest:
- Armen Ashotyan, MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
Topics:
- What took place in 2018?
- Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
- Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
- Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasnât the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
- Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021
Armen Ashotyan - Opposition Talks | Ep 44, Jan 19, 2021 [EP44]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno KarabakhGroong Links:
Guest:
- Armen Ashotyan, MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
Topics:
- What took place in 2018?
- Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
- Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
- Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasnât the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
- Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021