Republic of Artsakh on Groong Podcast

Hrant Mikaelian - Venezuela, Attacks on the Armenian Church Continue, MPG Poll Results | Ep 501, Jan 4, 2026

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0400

Summary

In this first Week in Review of 2026, we’re joined by Hrant Mikaelian as we examine three developments shaping Armenia’s political environment and regional context. We begin with the unprecedented U.S. abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the implications for international law and smaller states. We then turn to the escalating confrontation between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, including renewed efforts to restructure the Church ahead of 2026. We conclude with a detailed review of the latest MPG poll results and an assessment of Armenia’s economic performance and rising national debt in 2025.

Hrant Mikaelian - Venezuela, Attacks on the Armenian Church Continue, MPG Poll Results | Ep 501, Jan 4, 2026

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0400

Episode Summary

Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:16:54 -0700

Diplomatic Career

Can you tell us a little about how you entered the career of a diplomat and where your career has taken you?

Questions:

In over 30 years with the MFA, who were the most influential mentors and diplomats for you, and who impressed you the most?
Genocide Policy: Zareh Sinanian.
In July 2021, we heard that you were recalled from your ambassadorship to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Why did you leave the MFA? Was it voluntary or were you relieved?

Velvet 2018

Let’s look back to May of 2018, when Nikol Pashinyan was sworn in as Prime Minister of Armenia.

Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:16:54 -0700

Episode Summary

Intro to Ms Aghajanian. Career path, Mentors, Influencers. Parting ways with the MFA. How did Armenia Resist Turkish Pressure prior to 2018. Impressions of 2018 events. On Pashinyan’s Policies to Surrender Artsakh. Letter Planning the Surrender. Messaging Aliyev to begin Instigations. Changing Security Doctrine. The Myth of Western Security Guarantees. Pashinyan’s Fiction re Alma Ata and Madrid Principles. On Armenia’s National Interests. On Armenian Foreign Policy Vectors. Can Armenia get Closer to Iran? Can “Normalization” with Turkey work? Mother Armenia / Մայր Հայաստան Movement Announced.