Political Prisoners

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
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Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• Imprisonment and Political Persecution
• International and Diaspora Response
• Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
• The Managed Capitulation Process

Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• Imprisonment and Political Persecution
• International and Diaspora Response
• Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
• The Managed Capitulation Process

Episode 465 | Recorded on August 27, 2025

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan , Former MP, Heritage Party

Topics:

• August 23: Armenia’s declaration of State Sovereignty
• The TRIPP Trap
• Iran - Pezeshkian’s Visit
• Russia - Overchuk’s visit
• The Kitchen Sink

Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan , Former MP, Heritage Party

Topics:

• August 23: Armenia’s declaration of State Sovereignty
• The TRIPP Trap
• Iran - Pezeshkian’s Visit
• Russia - Overchuk’s visit
• The Kitchen Sink

Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Narek Malyan

Topics:

• Arrest, one year in prison
• Pre-trial detention as punishment
• Selective “justice” against opposition members
• The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Narek Malyan

Topics:

• Arrest, one year in prison
• Pre-trial detention as punishment
• Selective “justice” against opposition members
• The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
• Ethnic Cleansing
• Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

Topics:

• Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
• Ethnic Cleansing
• Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Narek Malyan

Topics:

• Կալանավորում, մեկ տարի բանտում (Arrest, one year in prison)
• Նախնական կալանք որպես պատիժ (Pretrial detention as punishment)
• Ընտրովի «արդարադատություն» ընդդիմադիրների նկատմամբ (Selective “justice” towards oppositionists)
• Արեւմուտքի լռությունը (The silence of the West)

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Narek Malyan

Topics:

• Կալանավորում, մեկ տարի բանտում (Arrest, one year in prison)
• Նախնական կալանք որպես պատիժ (Pretrial detention as punishment)
• Ընտրովի «արդարադատություն» ընդդիմադիրների նկատմամբ (Selective “justice” towards oppositionists)
• Արեւմուտքի լռությունը (The silence of the West)

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Amb. Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

• Iran Shuts Down Talk of “Zangezur Corridor”
• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Iran Armenia Trade / BRICS
• Foreign Intelligence Service
• Georgian and Azerbaijani Elections

Episode 361 | Recorded: September 11, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Amb. Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

• Iran Shuts Down Talk of “Zangezur Corridor”
• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Iran Armenia Trade / BRICS
• Foreign Intelligence Service
• Georgian and Azerbaijani Elections

Episode 361 | Recorded: September 11, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• Russian-Iranian Relations
• Russian-Armenian Relations
• Ukraine’s Kursk Gambit
• Pavel Durov Arrested in France
• Observations from Armenia and Russia

Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• Russian-Iranian Relations
• Russian-Armenian Relations
• Ukraine’s Kursk Gambit
• Pavel Durov Arrested in France
• Observations from Armenia and Russia

Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

• Georgian Politics, Amidst Global Currents
• Attacks Against the Georgian Church
• Thoughts on Russian and Georgian Relations

Episode 356 | Recorded: Aug 21, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

• Georgian Politics, Amidst Global Currents
• Attacks Against the Georgian Church
• Thoughts on Russian and Georgian Relations

Episode 356 | Recorded: Aug 21, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Hayk Mamijanyan

Topics:

• Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
• Update on political prisoners
• PACE report
• Referendum on joining EU
• Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Hayk Mamijanyan

Topics:

• Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
• Update on political prisoners
• PACE report
• Referendum on joining EU
• Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Report on Police Brutality on June 12 Rally
• PACE Resolution on Armenia
• Armenia’s High Pretrial Detention Rate
• Spotlight on Political Prisoner: Avetik Chalabyan

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Report on Police Brutality on June 12 Rally
• PACE Resolution on Armenia
• Armenia’s High Pretrial Detention Rate
• Spotlight on Political Prisoner: Avetik Chalabyan

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Police Brutality, Violence & Repressions
• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Armenia Russia Relations

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Police Brutality, Violence & Repressions
• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Armenia Russia Relations

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Detention vs. Arrest
• Hundreds Of Protesters Arrested
• “Red Berets” Beat Up MP
• Artsakh Mayors Under Arrest
• Podcasters Released But Banned From Podcasting
  • Narek Samsonyan
  • Vazgen Saghatelyan

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 336 | Recorded: June 16, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Detention vs. Arrest
• Hundreds Of Protesters Arrested
• “Red Berets” Beat Up MP
• Artsakh Mayors Under Arrest
• Podcasters Released But Banned From Podcasting
  • Narek Samsonyan
  • Vazgen Saghatelyan

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 336 | Recorded: June 16, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

• Georgian Law on Foreign Agents
• Politics and Diplomacy of Armenia
• Parallels and Lessons from Georgia

Episode 332 | Recorded: May 25, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Dr. Archil Sikharulidze

Topics:

• Georgian Law on Foreign Agents
• Politics and Diplomacy of Armenia
• Parallels and Lessons from Georgia

Episode 332 | Recorded: May 25, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Political Prisoners in Armenia
• Armenia’s Hate Speech Laws
• Cases
  • Samuel Vardanyan
  • Narek Malyan
  • Armen Grigorian

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 325 | Recorded: April 20, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Political Prisoners in Armenia
• Armenia’s Hate Speech Laws
• Cases
  • Samuel Vardanyan
  • Narek Malyan
  • Armen Grigorian

Guest:

• Rafael Ishkhanyan

Episode 325 | Recorded: April 20, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Iran Amidst Conflicts
• Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
• Iran Amidst Conflicts
• Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Groong Links:

• DONATE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• Trilateral US-EU-Armenia Meeting
• Talks with Azerbaijan
  • Tavush: What has Pashinyan Promised
• Relations with Russia in Freefall
• Pashinyan Suppressing Artsakh Leadership

Episode 323 | Recorded: April 8, 2024

Groong Links:

• DONATE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• Trilateral US-EU-Armenia Meeting
• Talks with Azerbaijan
  • Tavush: What has Pashinyan Promised
• Relations with Russia in Freefall
• Pashinyan Suppressing Artsakh Leadership

Episode 323 | Recorded: April 8, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Terror Attack in Moscow
• Growing List of Political Prisoners in Armenia
  • Narek Samsonyan & Vazgen Saghatelyan brutally arrested
  • Narek Malyan Exonerated, Remains Jailed
• Pashinyan in Tavush
• Stoltenberg’s in the South Caucasus

Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Terror Attack in Moscow
• Growing List of Political Prisoners in Armenia
  • Narek Samsonyan & Vazgen Saghatelyan brutally arrested
  • Narek Malyan Exonerated, Remains Jailed
• Pashinyan in Tavush
• Stoltenberg’s in the South Caucasus

Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

• Reactions to Interview with Canadian Ambassador
• More Concessions Signaled by Pashinyan
• EU Parliament Resolution on Armenia
• Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

• Reactions to Interview with Canadian Ambassador
• More Concessions Signaled by Pashinyan
• EU Parliament Resolution on Armenia
• Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Canadian Ambassador Andrew Turner

Topics:

• Establishment of Canadian Embassy in Armenia
• EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA)
• Political Prisoners
• Canadian Military Supplies to Turkey

Episode 316 | Recorded: March 15, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong
• DONATE to GROONG

Guest:

• Canadian Ambassador Andrew Turner

Topics:

• Establishment of Canadian Embassy in Armenia
• EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA)
• Political Prisoners
• Canadian Military Supplies to Turkey

Episode 316 | Recorded: March 15, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenia’s Security in Danger
• Munich Security Conference
• Relations with Regional Allies

Episode 310 | Recorded: February 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Armenia’s Security in Danger
• Munich Security Conference
• Relations with Regional Allies

Episode 310 | Recorded: February 18, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

Topics:

• “Forced Illusion of Normalcy”
• Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
• Negotiations and “Peace Treaty”
• Armenia’s Military Capacity
• What Need to be Done?
• Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Karen Vrtanesyan

Topics:

• “Forced Illusion of Normalcy”
• Political Prisoners and Judicial Harassment
• Negotiations and “Peace Treaty”
• Armenia’s Military Capacity
• What Need to be Done?
• Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 302 | Recorded: January 14, 2024

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Aghasi Yenokyan

Topics:

• Ruling Party Power Grabs
  • Why is Civil Contract so Adamant on Total Municipal Control
  • Political Prisoners
• Early/Snap Elections?
• Armenia’s Controlled Judiciary
• About Yenokian’s new book: Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց

Episode 298 | Recorded: December 13, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Aghasi Yenokyan

Topics:

• Ruling Party Power Grabs
  • Why is Civil Contract so Adamant on Total Municipal Control
  • Political Prisoners
• Early/Snap Elections?
• Armenia’s Controlled Judiciary
• About Yenokian’s new book: Ալտերնատիվ պատմություն Հայոց

Episode 298 | Recorded: December 13, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Armenian Foreign Policy Vectors
• Latest MPG Poll Result Analysis
• Armenian Economy and 2024 Budget

Episode 295 | Recorded: Nov 15, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

• Armenian Foreign Policy Vectors
• Latest MPG Poll Result Analysis
• Armenian Economy and 2024 Budget

Episode 295 | Recorded: Nov 15, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Crossroads of Peace
• 3+3=5 in Tehran
• Relations with Russia
• Defense Deal with France
• Artsakh Status

Episode 291 | Recorded: October 31, 2023

Guest:

• Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

• Crossroads of Peace
• 3+3=5 in Tehran
• Relations with Russia
• Defense Deal with France
• Artsakh Status

Episode 291 | Recorded: October 31, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Levon Zourabian

Topics:

• Armenian National Congress (ANC)
• Democracy and Armenia
• Azerbaijan-Armenia Negotiations
• Artsakh
• Global Conflicts - Israel, Ukraine

Episode 290 | Recorded: October 27, 2023

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Levon Zourabian

Topics:

• Armenian National Congress (ANC)
• Democracy and Armenia
• Azerbaijan-Armenia Negotiations
• Artsakh
• Global Conflicts - Israel, Ukraine

Episode 290 | Recorded: October 27, 2023

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Aftermath of the Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh
  • Shahramanyan meets Protesters
  • “Rights & Security”
  • Government-in-Exile
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • Ripple Effects to the South Caucasus
  • Effects in the Middle East
  • Lebanon & the Armenian Community

Episode 288 | Recorded: October 22, 2023

Guest:

• Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Aftermath of the Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh
  • Shahramanyan meets Protesters
  • “Rights & Security”
  • Government-in-Exile
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • Ripple Effects to the South Caucasus
  • Effects in the Middle East
  • Lebanon & the Armenian Community

Episode 288 | Recorded: October 22, 2023

Guest:

• Johnny G. Melikian

Topics:

• On March 7, the Georgian parliament voted into law a bill that would require political actors to clarify their foreign funding sources and their activities to lobby lawmakers with such funding. This ignited large protests in Tbilisi, and on March 9 the parliament agreed to rescind the law and to release arrested opposition members. We analyze the events and the outcome.

Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023

Guest:

• Johnny G. Melikian

Topics:

• On March 7, the Georgian parliament voted into law a bill that would require political actors to clarify their foreign funding sources and their activities to lobby lawmakers with such funding. This ignited large protests in Tbilisi, and on March 9 the parliament agreed to rescind the law and to release arrested opposition members. We analyze the events and the outcome.

Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023

Guest:

• Hovhannes Ishkhanyan , writer, documentary filmmaker, publicist, co-founder of Eye for an Eye (Akn Und Akan), a community of documentarians. Hovhannes has a Master’s in journalism from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.

Using art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them

Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th

Guest:

• Hovhannes Ishkhanyan , writer, documentary filmmaker, publicist, co-founder of Eye for an Eye (Akn Und Akan), a community of documentarians. Hovhannes has a Master’s in journalism from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.

Using art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them

Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g

Topic:

More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.

“The full state-led attack against Artsakh and Armenia, which no-one in Europe condemned, was a case where the military solution worked. From 2020 onwards, many actors in the world see that you can attack and get away with it.”

Topic:

This is Day 8 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. 120 thousand people are effectively being held hostage by the regime in Baku.

Groong and 168 Hours are continuing our

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian , a political scientist and multidisciplinary researcher in social sciences based in Yerevan. He is also a senior researcher at the Caucasus Institute.

“The full state-led attack against Artsakh and Armenia, which no-one in Europe condemned, was a case where the military solution worked. From 2020 onwards, many actors in the world see that you can attack and get away with it.”

Topic:

This is Day 8 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. 120 thousand people are effectively being held hostage by the regime in Baku.

Groong and 168 Hours are continuing our

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

• Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
• What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
• US Armenia Relations
• Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
• Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Suren Sargsyan

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 11, 2022

Topics:

• Latest MPG and IRI Poll Results
• What’s Up with the Armenian Economy?
• US Armenia Relations
• Geopolitical Developments

Index: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:52 Guests 00:01:18 Topics 00:02:20 Greetings 00:02:24 MPG and IRI Poll Results 00:21:54 Armenian Economy Dynamics 00:37:13 US-Armenia Relations 00:48:06 Geopolitics, the War in Ukraine 00:55:14 Rants, Personal Statements 00:56:17 Good byes 00:56:27 Closing comments

Guest:

• Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@hrant_m
• Suren Sargsyan - TW/@S_A_Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Hrant Mikaelian
• Suren Sargsyan