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 - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

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

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

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

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.

  • 00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM firmly set his foot down and demand Azerbaijan

 Read More

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

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.

  • 00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM firmly set his foot down and demand Azerbaijan

 Read More

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

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

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 3, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:12 Ukraine Crisis Update
  • 37:16 Parukh - Brussels - Moscow
  • 58:43 Rants

Guest:

  • Pietro Shakarian

Host:

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

Episode 131 | Recorded: Sunday, April 4, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220403.html

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

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 - 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

Hosts:

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

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

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO. Իրավական ուղի in Armenian.

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Decisions of the International Court of Justice
  • Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • More Constitutional Changes
  • Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
  • Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
  • Legislating Away Civil Liberties

Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO. Իրավական ուղի in Armenian.

Topics:

  • Introduction
  • Decisions of the International Court of Justice
  • Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
  • More Constitutional Changes
  • Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
  • Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
  • Legislating Away Civil Liberties

Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022