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.
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, European Union
Guest(s):
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
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, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
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, Turkey, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
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
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, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
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, Turkey, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
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
Armen Ashotyan - Opposition Talks | Ep 44, Jan 19, 2021 [EP44]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, European Union, Genocide, Geopolitics, Turkey | 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 Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Azerbaijan, Russia, China, European Union, Genocide, Geopolitics, TurkeyGroong 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
Pashinyan in Moscow | Azerbaijan's Geo-politics | Baku Domestic Politics | Baku's Losses (Ep. 43) [EP43]
Posted on Monday, Jan 18, 2021 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Economy, Israel, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyanâs trip to Moscow
- What is Azerbaijanâs geo-political situation after the war?
- Domestic politics in Baku
- Azerbaijanâs losses from the second war in Artsakh
Guests
- Edgar Elbakyan
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
Pashinyan in Moscow | Azerbaijan's Geo-politics | Baku Domestic Politics | Baku's Losses (Ep. 43) [EP43]
Posted on Monday, Jan 18, 2021 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Economy, Israel, Human Rights, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyanâs trip to Moscow
- What is Azerbaijanâs geo-political situation after the war?
- Domestic politics in Baku
- Azerbaijanâs losses from the second war in Artsakh
Guests
- Edgar Elbakyan
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021