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 26 - Nov 8, 2020
Topics Covered:
- Six weeks of war, what to do next.
- What is Russia thinking?
- To recognize or not to recognize.
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Resident Panelists:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Yeghia Tashjian
Recorded: Nov 7, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020
Topics Covered:
- International diplomacy on the move?
- What is Turkeyâs endgame?
- War and post-war economy
- Update on COVID
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020
International diplomacy | Turkey’s endgame | War and post-war economy | Update on COVID - 10/25/2020 [EP23]
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Economy, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, LebanonANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020
Topics Covered:
- International diplomacy on the move?
- What is Turkeyâs endgame?
- War and post-war economy
- Update on COVID
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
- Emil Sanamyan
Your Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020
Stepanakert Cluster Bombed | Turkey's Role | Russia Quiet | What's Next? | Ep. 20 - Oct 4, 2020 [EP20]
Posted on Monday, Oct 5, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, Geopolitics | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020
Topics:
- Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
- Turkeyâs role in the war.
- Why is Russia quiet?
- What can we expect next?
Guests:
Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020
Stepanakert Cluster Bombed | Turkey's Role | Russia Quiet | What's Next? | Ep. 20 - Oct 4, 2020 [EP20]
Posted on Monday, Oct 5, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, GeopoliticsANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020
Topics:
- Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
- Turkeyâs role in the war.
- Why is Russia quiet?
- What can we expect next?
Guests:
Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
Topics:
- The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
- Armeniaâs foreign policy;
- Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
- Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyanâs arrest
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Marine Manucharyan
- Emil Sanamyan
Hosts
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
Topics:
- The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
- Armeniaâs foreign policy;
- Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
- Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyanâs arrest
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Marine Manucharyan
- Emil Sanamyan
Hosts
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
CoG: "Velvet Revolution" Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020 [EP17]
Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Democracy | Series: COG
CoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020
It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.
In this
Read MoreCoG: "Velvet Revolution" Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020 [EP17]
Posted on Friday, Sep 25, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, DemocracyCoG: “Velvet Revolution” Two Years On - Part 1 | Ep 17 - Sep 25, 2020
It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.
In this
Read More