South Caucasus

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 22, 2021

Topics:

• The Government’s 5-Year Plan
• Is Russia Rearming Armenia? Artsakh?
• Press Freedoms Curtailed in Parliament
• Topics from the Panelists

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian @qubriq

Episode 86 | Recorded: August 22, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210822.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021

Topics:

• Continued Instability along Armenia-Azerbaijan Borders
• National Assembly Commission on the 44-Day War
• First Session of the 8th Session of the Armenian Parliament

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021

Topics:

• Continued Instability along Armenia-Azerbaijan Borders
• National Assembly Commission on the 44-Day War
• First Session of the 8th Session of the Armenian Parliament

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021

Topics:

• Escalation in Yeraskh
• “Peace Treaty” at Gunpoint
• Emigration out of Armenia
• Trip Report from Our Guests

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Hrant Mikaelian

Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021

Topics:

• Escalation in Yeraskh
• “Peace Treaty” at Gunpoint
• Emigration out of Armenia
• Trip Report from Our Guests

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Hrant Mikaelian

Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Decisions on Election Results
• New Pashinyan Appointments
• More Threats from Azerbaijan
• Russian Generals in Yerevan Again

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Suren Sargsyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021

Topics:

• Constitutional Court Decisions on Election Results
• New Pashinyan Appointments
• More Threats from Azerbaijan
• Russian Generals in Yerevan Again

Guests:

• Suren Sargsyan

Guest(s):

• Suren Sargsyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

• Putin / Pashinyan meeting
• Constitutional Court Challenge
• Forging Steel out of Velvet
• Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021

Topics:

• Putin / Pashinyan meeting
• Constitutional Court Challenge
• Forging Steel out of Velvet
• Groong Podcast’s Year-in-Review

Guests: Asbed Kotchikian

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html

Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

• Armenia’s Elections
• Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Erdogan in Azerbaijan
• Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:

• Armenia’s Elections
• Behind The Scenes with Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Erdogan in Azerbaijan
• Biden Meets Erdogan, then Putin

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• @Emil_Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.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):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

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):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Tevan Poghosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

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

Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War

A Conversation with:

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Cleveland-based historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, with a focus on Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw.

Topics

• Democracy-building in the Post Soviet Space
• NATO and expansion
• Russia in the Caucasus
• China and the New Silk Road through Iran and Georgia

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html

Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War

A Conversation with:

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Cleveland-based historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, with a focus on Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw.

Topics

• Democracy-building in the Post Soviet Space
• NATO and expansion
• Russia in the Caucasus
• China and the New Silk Road through Iran and Georgia

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.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):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

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):

• Tatul Hakobyan
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

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 - April 25, 2021

Topics:

• Nikol Pashinyan’s Roadmap & Snap Parliamentary Polls
• The Visit to Syunik
• Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Now What?
• Update from Stepanakert
• Are we Going to Mars?

Guests:

• Tevan Poghosyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Tevan Poghosyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021

Topics:

• Nikol Pashinyan’s Roadmap & Snap Parliamentary Polls
• The Visit to Syunik
• Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Now What?
• Update from Stepanakert
• Are we Going to Mars?

Guests:

• Tevan Poghosyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

• Tevan Poghosyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021

Topics Covered:

• Another Constitutional Amendment?
• Opposition Rising: New Bottle, Old Wine?
• Iran’s FM Zarif on a Tour de Six
• State of the Virus in Armenia
• Armenia Fund Used to Shore up the Dram?

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Your Hosts:

• Alen Zamanyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021

Guest(s):

• Ruben Muradyan

Armenian IT Security and Readiness During Wartime - with Ruben Muradyan - Jan. 31, 2021

Experience being called up and participating in the war

Ethics of a security professional. What to do when a government member asks you to conduct greyhat (potentially unlawful or unethical) security?

On the 2nd day of the war Ruben was called up to the army as part of an infantry company.

• Can you describe your experience?
• How were you drafted? And where did you serve?
• What specialty did you have in the army?
• What can you tell us about what you saw?
• Why did we lose the war?

Guest(s):

• Ruben Muradyan

Armenian IT Security and Readiness During Wartime - with Ruben Muradyan - Jan. 31, 2021

Experience being called up and participating in the war

Ethics of a security professional. What to do when a government member asks you to conduct greyhat (potentially unlawful or unethical) security?

On the 2nd day of the war Ruben was called up to the army as part of an infantry company.

• Can you describe your experience?
• How were you drafted? And where did you serve?
• What specialty did you have in the army?
• What can you tell us about what you saw?
• Why did we lose the war?

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Six weeks of war, what to do next.
• What is Russia thinking?
• To recognize or not to recognize.

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Yeghia Tashjian

Recorded: Nov 7, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020

Topics Covered:

• International diplomacy on the move?
• What is Turkey’s endgame?
• War and post-war economy
• Update on COVID

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/25/2020

Topics Covered:

• International diplomacy on the move?
• What is Turkey’s endgame?
• War and post-war economy
• Update on COVID

Guests:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian
• Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20201025.html Episode 23 | Recorded on October 25, 2020

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an

Armenian News Network/Groong: Telecommunications Security in Armenia - Sep 15, 2020)

Conversations on Groong

Background and formulation of the telecoms market in Armenia

Telecommunications market in Armenia started with the monopoly of the incumbent operator ArmenTel owned jointly by Greek state owned company OTE (90%) and Armenian government (10%). The sale-purchase agreement granted ArmenTel (recently rebranded to VEON) exclusive rights to provide basic telecommunications services including international Internet connectivity, mobile and fixed telephony. ArmenTel’s monopoly remained till

Armenian News Network/Groong: Telecommunications Security in Armenia - Sep 15, 2020)

Conversations on Groong

Background and formulation of the telecoms market in Armenia

Telecommunications market in Armenia started with the monopoly of the incumbent operator ArmenTel owned jointly by Greek state owned company OTE (90%) and Armenian government (10%). The sale-purchase agreement granted ArmenTel (recently rebranded to VEON) exclusive rights to provide basic telecommunications services including international Internet connectivity, mobile and fixed telephony. ArmenTel’s monopoly remained till

Guest(s):

• Ara Sanjian
• Siranush Dvoyan

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

Guest(s):

• Ara Sanjian
• Siranush Dvoyan

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

Topics:

• Turkey: Zero Problems?
• Azerbaijan: The Myth of Brotherly Relations?
• Armenia: From Diplomatic Overtures to a Mini Cold War

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020

Topics:

• Turkey: Zero Problems?
• Azerbaijan: The Myth of Brotherly Relations?
• Armenia: From Diplomatic Overtures to a Mini Cold War

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

• Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
• Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
• Lightning Round
  • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
  • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
  • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
  • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

• Arzu Geybulla
• Ulvi Ismayil
• Artyom Tonoyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Resident panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020