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.
On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russiaâs interests in the region, and in this agreement?
Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The
Read MoreTurkey & Azerbaijan Connecting | Opposition Uniting | Putin support? | Kocharyan Interview Ep. 30 - Dec. 6, 2020 [EP30]
Posted on Monday, Dec 7, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Economy, Iran, China, Geopolitics, Middle East | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020
Topics:
- Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
- Armeniaâs Political Opposition Uniting
- Does Putin support Pashinyan?
- Robert Kocharyan Interview
Guests:
Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020
Turkey & Azerbaijan Connecting | Opposition Uniting | Putin support? | Kocharyan Interview Ep. 30 - Dec. 6, 2020 [EP30]
Posted on Monday, Dec 7, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Economy, Iran, China, Geopolitics, Middle EastANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020
Topics:
- Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
- Armeniaâs Political Opposition Uniting
- Does Putin support Pashinyan?
- Robert Kocharyan Interview
Guests:
Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020
Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan | Scene in Yerevan | COVID | Armenia Fund (Ep. 29) [EP29]
Posted on Friday, Dec 4, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Georgia, Economy, Russia, China, Middle East, Armenian Church | Series: wir
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020
Topics Covered:
- Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- The Scene in Yerevan
- COVID Update
- Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Resident Panelists:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Recorded: Nov 29, 2020
Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan | Scene in Yerevan | COVID | Armenia Fund (Ep. 29) [EP29]
Posted on Friday, Dec 4, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Georgia, Economy, Russia, China, Middle East, Armenian ChurchGuest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020
Topics Covered:
- Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- The Scene in Yerevan
- COVID Update
- Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Resident Panelists:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Hrant Mikaelian
Recorded: Nov 29, 2020
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020
Topics Covered:
- The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
- Pax Russiana
- The extent of Turkeyâs presence in Azerbaijan
- Jubilation in Baku
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Resident Panelists:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Artyom Tonoyan
Recorded: Nov 15, 2020
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020
Topics Covered:
- The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
- Pax Russiana
- The extent of Turkeyâs presence in Azerbaijan
- Jubilation in Baku
Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
Resident Panelists:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Artyom Tonoyan
Recorded: Nov 15, 2020
Guest(s):
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
Guest(s):
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