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.

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
  • 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
  • 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
  • 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
  • 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
  • 01:18:51 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 26, 2021

Topics:

  • Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference
  • Robert Kocharyan holds a press conference
  • The Yerevan Mayor Saga

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@ TevanPoghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 110 | Recorded: Sunday, December 27, 2021

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211226.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 26, 2021

Topics:

  • Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference
  • Robert Kocharyan holds a press conference
  • The Yerevan Mayor Saga

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@ TevanPoghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 110 | Recorded: Sunday, December 27, 2021

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211226.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021

Topics:

  • Zoom for Democracy
  • Domestic Politics
  • Regional Politics
  • Artsakh Independence at 30
  • Analyst Rants

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
  • Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021

Topics:

  • Zoom for Democracy
  • Domestic Politics
  • Regional Politics
  • Artsakh Independence at 30
  • Analyst Rants

Guests:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
  • Pietro Shakarian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021

Topics:

  • Yerevan’s “Positive Messages”
  • Opposition Going Back to Street Rallies?
  • Ruling Party Setbacks in Local Elections
  • Vano Siradeghyan Dies

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021

Topics:

  • Yerevan’s “Positive Messages”
  • Opposition Going Back to Street Rallies?
  • Ruling Party Setbacks in Local Elections
  • Vano Siradeghyan Dies

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan TW/@TevanPoghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html

Guest:

  • Tevan Poghosyan , is president of the International Center for Human Development in Yerevan. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP in the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. From 1997 to 1999 he served as the Nagorno-Karabakh Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.

Topic:

  • The One-year anniversary of The War in Artsakh
  • Can the Opposition Reorganize?
  • Turkish-Armenian Possible Rapprochement

Episode 90 | Recorded: September 27, 2021

Guest:

  • Tevan Poghosyan , is president of the International Center for Human Development in Yerevan. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP in the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. From 1997 to 1999 he served as the Nagorno-Karabakh Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.

Topic:

  • The One-year anniversary of The War in Artsakh
  • Can the Opposition Reorganize?
  • Turkish-Armenian Possible Rapprochement

Episode 90 | Recorded: September 27, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenian Elections Recap
  • Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 27, 2021 Topics:

  • Armenian Elections Recap
  • Protests in Artsakh

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 76 | Recorded: June 27, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210627.html

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

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Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:

  • Meltdown at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Philip Reeker’s Visit to the Region
  • 15 POWs Return Home
  • Latest Election Poll Results

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Tevan Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:

  • Meltdown at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Philip Reeker’s Visit to the Region
  • 15 POWs Return Home
  • Latest Election Poll Results

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Tevan Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

  • Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

  • The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
  • On the War in 2020
  • On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
  • On the
 Read More

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

  • Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

  • The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
  • On the War in 2020
  • On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
  • On the
 Read More

Guest(s):

Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian

The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.

Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional

 Read More

Guest(s):

Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian

The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.

Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

  • Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
  • Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 6, 2021

Topics:

  • Kocharyan Closes in on Pashinyan in Election Polls
  • Pashinyan Visits Europe

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210606.html

Episode 66 | Recorded: June 6, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:

  • Continued Tensions on the Eastern Border
  • Latest IRI and MPG Polls on the Armenian Elections
  • Election Politics

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • George Tabakyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 30, 2021 Topics:

  • Continued Tensions on the Eastern Border
  • Latest IRI and MPG Polls on the Armenian Elections
  • Election Politics

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • George Tabakyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 65 | Recorded: May 30, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210530.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

  • Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
  • Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
  • Electoral Politics

Guests:

  • Tatul Hakobyan
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:

  • Azerbaijan’s Incursion into Syunik
  • Lavrov’s Visit to Yerevan and Baku
  • Electoral Politics

Guests:

  • Tatul Hakobyan
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Artyom Tonoyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan @HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021

Topics:

  • Kocharyan’s Prosecutors Won’t Go Away
  • Snap Electoral Reforms
  • New Gallup poll
  • What’s Going on in Ukraine?

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021

Topics:

  • Kocharyan’s Prosecutors Won’t Go Away
  • Snap Electoral Reforms
  • New Gallup poll
  • What’s Going on in Ukraine?

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

  • Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
  • Amending the Law on Mass Media
  • Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
  • Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021

Topics Covered:

  • Lost in Artsakh, Thirsty in Syunik
  • Amending the Law on Mass Media
  • Update on the Political Scene in Yerevan
  • Rising National Debt, Inflation and Interest Rates

Guests

  • Hrant Mikaelian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021

Guest(s):

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

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Guest(s):

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

  • Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
  • Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
  • Does Putin support Pashinyan?
  • Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020

Topics:

  • Turkey and Azerbaijan Connecting
  • Armenia’s Political Opposition Uniting
  • Does Putin support Pashinyan?
  • Robert Kocharyan Interview

Guests:

Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • Summary of diplomatic activities
  • Iranian mediation offers
  • Negotiations in Geneva
  • Support from ex-presidents
  • Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

Resident Panelists:

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 25 - Nov 1, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • Summary of diplomatic activities
  • Iranian mediation offers
  • Negotiations in Geneva
  • Support from ex-presidents
  • Latest update on the war

Your Hosts:

Resident Panelists:

Recorded: Oct 30, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020

Topics:

  • Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
  • Armenia’s Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
  • Serge Sargsyan’s Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
  • National Awards
  • Vagharshak Harutyunyan’s Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020

Topics:

  • Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
  • Armenia’s Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
  • Serge Sargsyan’s Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
  • National Awards
  • Vagharshak Harutyunyan’s Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 07/12/2020

Topics:

  • The Constitutional Court Standoff Continues in Limbo
  • Polls, and what you should know about them
  • The Armenian Government’s response to COVID-19
  • The State of Armenian Media: Media Freedoms During Covid

Guests:

Episode 1 | Recorded on July 12, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 07/12/2020

Topics:

  • The Constitutional Court Standoff Continues in Limbo
  • Polls, and what you should know about them
  • The Armenian Government’s response to COVID-19
  • The State of Armenian Media: Media Freedoms During Covid

Guests:

Episode 1 | Recorded on July 12, 2020