Yerevan

Last updated: June 11, 2026

Yerevan is Armenia’s capital and largest city, with a population of approximately 1.1 million in the metropolitan area. Founded in 782 BCE, it is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Located in the Ararat Valley roughly 44 kilometers west of the Azerbaijan border, Yerevan is home to Republic Square, the Armenian National Museum, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, and numerous universities, theaters, and cultural institutions. The city serves as Armenia’s economic engine, housing the country’s major businesses, media outlets, and educational centers. Key government institutions—the National Assembly (parliament), presidential residence, and government ministries—are located in central Yerevan, making it the seat of state power and the venue where major policy decisions affecting Armenia’s relationship with Azerbaijan , Russia , the United States , Iran , and Turkey are formulated and announced.

Yerevan’s Republic Square remains a symbolic center of Armenian national life, and the surrounding neighborhoods host universities, cultural institutions, and media outlets that shape public discourse on war, peace, and Armenia’s geopolitical alignment.

Yerevan has been the epicenter of Armenia’s major political upheavals since independence in 1991. The so-called Velvet Revolution in 2018 centered on mass protests in Yerevan’s streets against Robert Kocharyan and resulted in Nikol Pashinyan ascending to power. Since then, the city has witnessed successive cycles of protest and state crackdown: street demonstrations against the 2020 ceasefire agreement following the 44-Day War , opposition rallies during Pashinyan’s tenure, and most recently, state pressure on the Armenian Church and arrests of opposition figures ahead of the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections. Yerevan’s geography and political institutions make it the arena where Armenia’s foreign policy commitments, including negotiations over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process , commitments to TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), and Armenia’s shifting relationship with CSTO membership are debated, contested, and implemented.

The city’s role in Armenia’s current geopolitical predicament is direct and unavoidable. Yerevan’s proximity to the Azerbaijani border and its status as Armenia’s sole major urban center mean that security threats, blockade pressure, and territorial demands all converge on decisions made within the capital’s government buildings. During the Iran War beginning in early 2026, Yerevan became a site of intense diplomatic activity as foreign officials visited to signal American intentions regarding the TRIPP corridor, regional alignment, and Armenia’s relationship with Washington. The city’s parliament elected in June 2026 will determine whether Armenia continues Pashinyan’s course of concessions to Azerbaijan and the West, or whether opposition forces can halt further territorial or sovereignty losses. As such, developments in Yerevan invariably reflect and shape the choices available to Armenia as a state caught between Russia , an increasingly assertive Azerbaijan, a destabilized Iran, and a United States pursuing its own strategic interests in the South Caucasus.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Yerevan.

Benyamin Poghosyan - US-Iran Tensions, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Victory Day, Journalist Assaulted | Ep 434, May 4, 2025 [EP434]

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Geopolitics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Israel, China, Ukraine, Syria

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Iran Sanctions Escalate Amid Tensions
Journalist Beaten Inside Yerevan Office
Moscow Celebrates Victory Day Parade
Armenia Caught Between EU and Russia

Episode 434 | Recorded: May 6, 2025

Alberto M. Fernandez – Vatican-Baku Partnership & Erosion of Moral Authority | Ep 431, Apr 29, 2025 [EP431]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2025 | Category: Armenia, World, Vatican, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Syria, Genocide, Turkey, Russia, Middle East, Lebanon, Human Rights, Georgia, Israel, China, India, NATO, Ukraine | Series: cog, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Alberto M. Fernandez

Topics:

Vaticanâs alliance with Azerbaijan
Whitewashing of Artsakhâs ethnic cleansing
Global silence on Armenian Genocide
U.S. policy under Trump and risks to Armenia

Episode 431 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Alberto M. Fernandez – Vatican-Baku Partnership & Erosion of Moral Authority | Ep 431, Apr 29, 2025 [EP431]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Alberto M. Fernandez

Topics:

Vaticanâs alliance with Azerbaijan
Whitewashing of Artsakhâs ethnic cleansing
Global silence on Armenian Genocide
U.S. policy under Trump and risks to Armenia

Episode 431 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - US-Iran, Gyumri, Armenia MFA Blames Artsakh, Negotiations with Azerbaijan | Ep 426, Apr 6, 2025 [EP426]

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Geopolitics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Russia, China, Israel, Middle East, Ukraine, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Turkey, NATO, Syria | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

US Iran Escalation
Aftermath of Gyumri and Parakar
MFA blames Artsakh for Regional Isolation
Bullets and Peace

Episode 426 | Recorded: April 8, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - US-Iran, Gyumri, Armenia MFA Blames Artsakh, Negotiations with Azerbaijan | Ep 426, Apr 6, 2025 [EP426]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

US Iran Escalation
Aftermath of Gyumri and Parakar
MFA blames Artsakh for Regional Isolation
Bullets and Peace

Episode 426 | Recorded: April 8, 2025

Dziunik Aghajanian - Illusions of Peace and Geopolitical Games | Ep 424 - Mar 23, 2025 [EP424]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Israel, Geopolitics, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Ukraine, China | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Trumpâs Iran ultimatum explored
Turkeyâs protests seen as strategic
Azerbaijanâs peace deal as smokescreen
Armeniaâs Westward drift analyzed
Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Dziunik Aghajanian - Illusions of Peace and Geopolitical Games | Ep 424 - Mar 23, 2025 [EP424]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Israel, Geopolitics, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Ukraine, China

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dziunik Aghajanian

Topics:

Trumpâs Iran ultimatum explored
Turkeyâs protests seen as strategic
Azerbaijanâs peace deal as smokescreen
Armeniaâs Westward drift analyzed
Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Peace or Capitulation? Armenia's Dilemma & Ukraine Shifts | Ep 423 - Mar 16, 2025 [EP423]

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Geopolitics, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, European Union, Ukraine, Israel, China, Middle East, Genocide | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
Witkoffâs Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Peace or Capitulation? Armenia's Dilemma & Ukraine Shifts | Ep 423 - Mar 16, 2025 [EP423]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
Witkoffâs Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Arthur G Martirosyan - Ukraine, Edgar Ghazaryan, Robert Kocharyan, Yerevan Bus Fares | Ep 418, Feb 23, 2025 [EP418]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, China, Iran, NATO, Israel, European Union, Syria | Series: wir, video

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Arthur G Martirosyan - Ukraine, Edgar Ghazaryan, Robert Kocharyan, Yerevan Bus Fares | Ep 418, Feb 23, 2025 [EP418]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, China, Iran, NATO, Israel, European Union, Syria

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Hrant Mikaelian - Review of the Armenian Economy in 2024 | Ep 417, Feb 22, 2025 [EP417]

Posted on Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Artsakh, Economy, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Georgia, European Union, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Iran, NATO, India | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Hrant Mikaelian - Review of the Armenian Economy in 2024 | Ep 417, Feb 22, 2025 [EP417]

Posted on Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Artsakh, Economy, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Georgia, European Union, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Iran, NATO, India

Groong Links:

Guest:

Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Harut Sassounian - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s Benevolent Engagement with Armenia | Ep 409, Feb 2, 2025 [EP409]

Posted on Sunday, Feb 2, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Georgia, Genocide, Israel, Economy | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Harut Sassounian

Topics:

Who was Kirk Kerkorian?
How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia
Investing in Armenia
End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian

Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025

Harut Sassounian - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s Benevolent Engagement with Armenia | Ep 409, Feb 2, 2025 [EP409]

Posted on Sunday, Feb 2, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Georgia, Genocide, Israel, Economy

Groong Links:

Guest:

Harut Sassounian

Topics:

Who was Kirk Kerkorian?
How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia
Investing in Armenia
End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian

Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025

Transcript: Harut Sassounian - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s Benevolent Engagement with Armenia | Ep 409, Feb 2, 2025 [EP409]

Posted on Sunday, Feb 2, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Georgia, Genocide, Israel, Economy, Transcript

Who was Kirk Kerkorian? How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia. Investing in Armenia. End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian.

Pietro Shakarian - Russian-Iranian Partnership Pact | Ep 407, Jan 27, 2025 [EP407]

Posted on Monday, Jan 27, 2025 | Category: Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, BRICS, Syria, Turkey, Israel, NATO, Middle East, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
Implications of ð·ðº - ð®ð· pact for Armenia
Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

Pietro Shakarian - Russian-Iranian Partnership Pact | Ep 407, Jan 27, 2025 [EP407]

Posted on Monday, Jan 27, 2025 | Category: Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, BRICS, Syria, Turkey, Israel, NATO, Middle East, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India

Groong Links:

Guest:

Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
Implications of ð·ðº - ð®ð· pact for Armenia
Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

The Political Persecution of Narek Malyan | Ep 402 - Dec 27, 2024 [EP402]

Posted on Friday, Dec 27, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Narek Malyan

Topics:

Arrest, one year in prison
Pre-trial detention as punishment
Selective “justice” against opposition members
The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

The Political Persecution of Narek Malyan | Ep 402 - Dec 27, 2024 [EP402]

Posted on Friday, Dec 27, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Political Prisoners, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Human Rights

Groong Links:

Guest:

Narek Malyan

Topics:

Arrest, one year in prison
Pre-trial detention as punishment
Selective “justice” against opposition members
The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

Suren Sargsyan - Armenia and Trump’s Election as President Again | Ep 384 - Nov 9, 2024 [EP384]

Posted on Saturday, Nov 9, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, USA, Middle East, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Israel, Lebanon, Genocide, Armenian Church, China, Russia, NATO, Iran, Economy, Human Rights | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
Ukraine War, NATO, China
Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran

Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Suren Sargsyan - Armenia and Trump’s Election as President Again | Ep 384 - Nov 9, 2024 [EP384]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Suren Sargsyan

Topic:

Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
Ukraine War, NATO, China
Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran

Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Նարեկ Մալյան - Քաղաքական Հալածանքներ և Ընտրովի Արդարադատուտյուն | Ep 383 - Nov 8, 2024 [EP383]

Posted on Friday, Nov 8, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, In Armenian, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog

Groong Links:

Guest:

Narek Malyan

Topics:

Կալանավորում, մեկ տարի բանտում (Arrest, one year in prison)
Նախնական կալանք որպես պատիժ (Pretrial detention as punishment)
Ընտրովի «արդարադատություն» ընդդիմադիրների նկատմամբ (Selective “justice” towards oppositionists)
Արեւմուտքի լռությունը (The silence of the West)

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Նարեկ Մալյան - Քաղաքական Հալածանքներ և Ընտրովի Արդարադատուտյուն | Ep 383 - Nov 8, 2024 [EP383]

Posted on Friday, Nov 8, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, In Armenian, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh

Groong Links:

Guest:

Narek Malyan

Topics:

Կալանավորում, մեկ տարի բանտում (Arrest, one year in prison)
Նախնական կալանք որպես պատիժ (Pretrial detention as punishment)
Ընտրովի «արդարադատություն» ընդդիմադիրների նկատմամբ (Selective “justice” towards oppositionists)
Արեւմուտքի լռությունը (The silence of the West)

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Topics:

Role of the Opposition
Relations with the Tavush Movement
Relations with the Diaspora

Episode 364 | Recorded: September 13, 2024

Giro Manoyan - The ARF in Armenia’s Politics | Ep 364 - Sep 16, 2024 [EP364]

Posted on Monday, Sep 16, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Economy, Diaspora, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine, Genocide, Georgia

Groong Links:

linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

Mr. Giro Manoyan

Topics:

Role of the Opposition
Relations with the Tavush Movement
Relations with the Diaspora

Episode 364 | Recorded: September 13, 2024

Tevan Poghosyan - US Leadership Changes, Iran Armenia Relations, Russian-Armenian Relations, EU Push for an Agreement, Srbazan Movement Next Steps | Ep 351 - Aug 4, 2024 [EP351]

Posted on Sunday, Aug 4, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Economy, China, Genocide, Human Rights, Ukraine, Israel, European Union, NATO | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

US Leadership Changes
Iran Armenia Relations
Russian-Armenian Relations
EU Push for an Agreement
Srbazan Movement Next Steps

Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024

Tevan Poghosyan - US Leadership Changes, Iran Armenia Relations, Russian-Armenian Relations, EU Push for an Agreement, Srbazan Movement Next Steps | Ep 351 - Aug 4, 2024 [EP351]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

US Leadership Changes
Iran Armenia Relations
Russian-Armenian Relations
EU Push for an Agreement
Srbazan Movement Next Steps

Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024

Anna Karapetyan | Peace Treaty and more Aliyev Demands | James O’Brien in Yerevan | Srbazan Movement | Ep 335 - June 9, 2024 [EP335]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 11, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Economy, Genocide, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Iran | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

Peace Treaty and more Aliyev Demands
James OâBrien in Yerevan
Russia Armenia Relations
Srbazan Movement

Episode 335 | Recorded: June 10, 2024

Anna Karapetyan | Peace Treaty and more Aliyev Demands | James O’Brien in Yerevan | Srbazan Movement | Ep 335 - June 9, 2024 [EP335]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 11, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Economy, Genocide, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Iran

Groong Links:

Guest:

Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

Peace Treaty and more Aliyev Demands
James OâBrien in Yerevan
Russia Armenia Relations
Srbazan Movement

Episode 335 | Recorded: June 10, 2024

Arthur Martirosyan | Heavy Rainstorms and Flood, Srbazan Movement Church and State, Geopolitical Developments | Ep 334 - June 2, 2024 [EP334]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 4, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, China, Iran, Middle East, Ukraine | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Heavy Rainstorms Flood Northern Armenia
Bagrat Srbazan Movement
- Church and State
Geopolitical Developments
Rights and Security for Artsakh Armenians

Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024

Arthur Martirosyan | Heavy Rainstorms and Flood, Srbazan Movement Church and State, Geopolitical Developments | Ep 334 - June 2, 2024 [EP334]

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 4, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Church, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, China, Iran, Middle East, Ukraine

Groong Links:

Guest:

Arthur G. Martirosyan

Topics:

Heavy Rainstorms Flood Northern Armenia
Bagrat Srbazan Movement
- Church and State
Geopolitical Developments
Rights and Security for Artsakh Armenians

Episode 334 | Recorded: June 3, 2024

Tevan Poghosyan - Political Prisoners in Armenia | Stoltenberg in the South Caucasus | Pashinyan in Tavush | Ep 320 - Mar 24, 2024 [EP320]

Posted on Monday, Mar 25, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, NATO, Georgia, Ukraine, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

Terror Attack in Moscow
Growing List of Political Prisoners in Armenia
- Narek Samsonyan & Vazgen Saghatelyan brutally arrested
- Narek Malyan Exonerated, Remains Jailed
Pashinyan in Tavush
Stoltenbergâs in the South Caucasus

Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024

Tevan Poghosyan - Political Prisoners in Armenia | Stoltenberg in the South Caucasus | Pashinyan in Tavush | Ep 320 - Mar 24, 2024 [EP320]

Posted on Monday, Mar 25, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, NATO, Georgia, Ukraine, Genocide, Human Rights, Economy

Groong Links:

Guest:

Tevan Poghosyan

Topics:

Terror Attack in Moscow
Growing List of Political Prisoners in Armenia
- Narek Samsonyan & Vazgen Saghatelyan brutally arrested
- Narek Malyan Exonerated, Remains Jailed
Pashinyan in Tavush
Stoltenbergâs in the South Caucasus

Episode 320 | Recorded: March 25, 2024