Robert Kocharyan
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Robert Kocharyan served as President of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, making him the second president of the post-Soviet republic. Before that he served as President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic from 1994 to 1997 and as Prime Minister of Armenia. His decade in power shaped the political and economic landscape of the country and its approach to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
After leaving the presidency, Kocharyan faced criminal prosecution under the Pashinyan government on charges related to the March 2008 post-election crackdown, a case that became a focal point of the political struggle between the ruling party and the opposition. He was eventually acquitted and returned to active political life as the leader of the Armenia Alliance (Hayastan Dashinq), an opposition coalition that includes the ARF and other forces.
With more than 60 episodes of coverage, Groong has followed Kocharyan’s legal battles, his political comeback, his leadership of the opposition coalition, and the Armenia Alliance’s positions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the peace process with Azerbaijan, and Armenia’s geopolitical orientation. He is one of the central figures in the contest for power heading into the June 2026 parliamentary elections.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Robert Kocharyan.
Kocharyan Stopped at Airport, Then Hit With 20-Year-Old Cases [EP561]
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026 | Category: Politics, Armenia, Human RightsOpposition leader Robert Kocharyan was detained at the airport without justification, then charged with crimes allegedly committed two decades ago that fall outside the statute of limitations.
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- US-Iran negotiations and regional risks
- TRIPP and shifting regional power
- Armenia’s contested post-election landscape
- Opposition failures and future strategy
- Risks of another parliamentary election
Episode 560 | Recorded: June 22, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #USIranNegotiations #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Iran #ArmanGrigoryan
Arman Grigoryan - US-Iran Negotiations, Post-Election Armenian Politics | Ep 560, Jun 23, 2026 [EP560]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, IranGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- US-Iran negotiations and regional risks
- TRIPP and shifting regional power
- Armenia’s contested post-election landscape
- Opposition failures and future strategy
- Risks of another parliamentary election
Episode 560 | Recorded: June 22, 2026
#ArmeniaElections #USIranNegotiations #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Iran #ArmanGrigoryan
Why Voters Rejected the 'Nakhkins': Dignity Over Economics [EP560]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 | Category: Politics, ArmeniaGrigoryan argues that Armenian voters rejected the pre-2018 regime primarily because of systemic humiliation by oligarchs and local warlords, not merely economic corruption.
Transcript: Arman Grigoryan - US-Iran Negotiations, Post-Election Armenian Politics | Ep 560, Jun 23, 2026 [EP560]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Arman Grigoryan about US-Iran negotiations and Armenia’s contested post-election landscape. We discuss the prospects for a US-Iran agreement, its implications for TRIPP and Iran-Russia relations, the aftermath of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, and how shifting great-power dynamics reshape the South Caucasus.
Groong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Election aftermath and disputed legitimacy
- Threats against opposition parties
- Armenia-Russia tensions after vote
- EU lifeline for Armenian exports
- Polling failures and hidden votes
Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling
Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026 [EP559]
Posted on Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, PollGroong Links:
Guest(s):
Topics:
- Election aftermath and disputed legitimacy
- Threats against opposition parties
- Armenia-Russia tensions after vote
- EU lifeline for Armenian exports
- Polling failures and hidden votes
Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling
Transcript: Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026 [EP559]
Posted on Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, TranscriptIn this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Hrant Mikaelian about the disputed aftermath of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary election. We discuss allegations of electoral fraud, threats against opposition parties, the Anti-Corruption Committee’s proposed ban on opposition groups, Armenia-Russia tensions following the vote, and the EU’s financial support for Armenian agricultural exports amid Russian sanctions.
Groong Links:
Topics:
- Armenian Election Aftermath
- Armenia-Georgia Relations
- US-Iran Interim Agreement
Episode 558 | Recorded: June 15, 2026
#Armenia #ArmenianNews #ArmenianElections #CivilContract #Pashinyan #ArmenianConstitution #Referendum #ProsperousArmenia #SouthCaucasus #CEC