Political Prisoners

Last updated: May 29, 2026

The arrest and detention of political opponents has been one of the defining controversies of the Pashinyan government, particularly in the period following the 44-Day War and accelerating sharply in 2024 and 2025. Those detained include figures from across the opposition spectrum: leaders of the Armenia Alliance and Hayastan Dashinq blocs, senior clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church including archbishops and bishops, journalists, civil society activists, and members of political parties competing in the 2026 elections.

Critics of the government argue these arrests constitute politically motivated persecution designed to weaken the opposition ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections and to suppress the Srbazan Movement that emerged in spring 2024. The Pashinyan government has characterized the detentions as lawful prosecutions for criminal conduct. International human rights organizations and Western governments have raised concerns about the fairness of proceedings and the conditions of detention.

Groong has covered political prisoners in Armenia extensively, tracking individual cases, the legal proceedings, international responses, and the broader pattern of what critics describe as democratic backsliding. Episodes in this category address the detention of specific individuals, the political context of their arrests, and the implications for Armenia’s stated aspirations toward European integration and rule of law.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Political Prisoners.

Guest:

Topics:

  • High-Stakes Ukraine Talks
  • Armenia’s Growing Political Detentions
  • Pashinyan Honored In Kazakhstan
  • Rising Pressure On The Church
  • Impeachment vs. Elections
  • Pashinyan Seizes Power Grid

Episode 488 | Recorded: November 24, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
  • Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
  • Republican Party Election Strategy
  • Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia

Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Freedom of Expression at Risk in Armenia
  • Vagharshapat Municipal Outcomes
  • Republican Party Election Strategy
  • Stand in Support of Independent Media and Journalism in Armenia

Episode 487 | Recorded: November 18, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine War, Trump - Putin Upcoming Summit
  • Israel-Gaza “Cease Fire”
  • Armenian Government Repressions Accelerate

Episode 479 | Recorded: October 20, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine War, Trump - Putin Upcoming Summit
  • Israel-Gaza “Cease Fire”
  • Armenian Government Repressions Accelerate

Episode 479 | Recorded: October 20, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TRIPP / Trump Route / Zangezur Corridor
  • Vote of No Confidence
  • “Pashinyan or War”?

Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TRIPP / Trump Route / Zangezur Corridor
  • Vote of No Confidence
  • “Pashinyan or War”?

Episode 473 | Recorded on September 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • War in Iran, Chapter 2?
  • Russia’s Stance on TRIPP
  • New MPG Poll in Armenia
  • Armenian Economy in H1/2025

Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • War in Iran, Chapter 2?
  • Russia’s Stance on TRIPP
  • New MPG Poll in Armenia
  • Armenian Economy in H1/2025

Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
  • Pre-trial detention practices
  • Lawfare and double standards
  • Armenia’s global consequences

Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
  • Pre-trial detention practices
  • Lawfare and double standards
  • Armenia’s global consequences

Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 356 | Recorded: Aug 21, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 356 | Recorded: Aug 21, 2024

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

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:

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

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:

Episode 343 | Recorded: June 28, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 337 | Recorded: June 17, 2024

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:

Episode 336 | Recorded: June 16, 2024

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:

Episode 336 | Recorded: June 16, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 332 | Recorded: May 25, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 332 | Recorded: May 25, 2024

Topics:

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

Guest:

Episode 325 | Recorded: April 20, 2024

Topics:

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

Guest:

Episode 325 | Recorded: April 20, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Iran Amidst Conflicts
  • Political Prisoners

Episode 324 | Recorded: April 16, 2024

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 310 | Recorded: February 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 310 | Recorded: February 18, 2024

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

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

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 295 | Recorded: Nov 15, 2023

Guest:

Topics:

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

Episode 295 | Recorded: Nov 15, 2023

Guest:

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:

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:

Topics:

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

Episode 290 | Recorded: October 27, 2023