Tag: Syunik

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Syunik is Armenia’s southernmost province, bordering Iran to the south and containing the cities of Goris and Kapan. It became a flashpoint in the post-2020 period for two related reasons: Azerbaijani demands for a transit corridor through its territory, and the ongoing encroachment of Azerbaijani forces on Armenian sovereign territory along its eastern and northern edges.

The proposed Zangezur Corridor — which Azerbaijan and Turkey have pushed for to connect Azerbaijan proper to the Nakhijevan exclave without crossing Armenian customs or security checkpoints — would run through Syunik. Armenia has consistently rejected extraterritorial corridor arrangements, insisting that any road or rail links operate under Armenian sovereignty and law. The dispute over this corridor has been one of the most contentious elements of the peace process.

Since 2021, Azerbaijani forces have occupied positions on Armenian sovereign territory in the Syunik region, including areas around Goris that effectively severed the direct road to Kapan for a period. The military pressure on Syunik is part of the broader pattern of Azerbaijani land seizures on Armenian territory that continued even after the 44-Day War ceasefire. Groong episodes covering Syunik address the corridor dispute, border security, and the strategic significance of Armenia’s southern corridor for its relationship with Iran.

Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022

Topics:

  • September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
    • September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
  • Developments in Geopolitics
    • There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Hosts:

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

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:02 Opposition movement restarts
  • 25:28 Berdzor & Aghavno handover
  • 34:43 “Peace Plan” coming?
  • 49:54 Newly proposed military service avoidance law
  • 54:15 Rant

Guest: Dr. Arthur Khachikyan

Hosts:

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

Episode 160 | Recorded: Sunday, August 28, 2022

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220828.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:44 Surmalu Blast
    • 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
    • 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
    • 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
    • 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
    • 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
  • 21:52 Foreign Relations
    • 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
    • 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
    • 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
    • 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
    • 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
  • 53:48 Resistance
 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:44 Surmalu Blast
    • 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
    • 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
    • 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
    • 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
    • 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
  • 21:52 Foreign Relations
    • 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
    • 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
    • 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
    • 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
    • 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
  • 53:48 Resistance
 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 7, 2022

Topics:

  • Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh Again
    • Armenian & Artsakh Authorities Evacuating Berdzor & Aghavno Population
  • Avetik Chalabyan Re-arrested

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan - TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

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

Episode 152 | Recorded: Monday, August 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220807.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 7, 2022

Topics:

  • Azerbaijan Attacks Artsakh Again
    • Armenian & Artsakh Authorities Evacuating Berdzor & Aghavno Population
  • Avetik Chalabyan Re-arrested

Guests:

  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan - TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

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

Episode 152 | Recorded: Monday, August 8, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220807.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
  • 47:53 Watch your Internets!
  • 55:58 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

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

Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html

#armenian #news

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
  • 47:53 Watch your Internets!
  • 55:58 Rants

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
  • Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

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

Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html

#armenian #news