In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Richard Campbell about artificial intelligence infrastructure and Armenia's Firebird project. We discuss the global AI race, the economics and energy demands of data centers, whether current AI valuations align with physical and economic realities, and what sovereign AI capacity means for Armenia's strategic positioning.

Topics:

• Global AI race and hype
• Economics of AI data centers
• Energy limits and infrastructure demands
• Armenia's Firebird AI project
• Jobs, innovation, and local benefits
• AI sovereignty and export controls
• Military value and security risks

Guest: Richard Campbell

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 577 | Recorded: August 11, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/577

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dFx8Oe48RaY

INTERESTING TALKS BY RICHARD CAMPBELL:

• Keynote: After the AI Hype - What's Real, and What's Next - Richard Campbell - 2026
• Above the Cloud: Building Data Centers in Space - Richard Campbell - NDC Copenhagen 2026

#ArtificialIntelligence #Armenia #FirebirdAI #AIDataCenters #SovereignAI #EnergySecurity #TechGeopolitics #NationalSecurity

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In this week's Groong episode, the hosts examine Pashinyan's confrontation with the Armenian Church, Armenia's strategic positioning between Russia and the EU, and the geopolitical implications of TRIPP. We discuss the trial of Catholicos Garegin II, Iran's military leadership realignment, the Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact, and how these shifts reshape Armenia's role in the South Caucasus.

Topics:

• Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Alliance
• Iran War Update
• Catholicos on Trial
• EAEU Meeting in Cholpon-Ata
• Corruption & Persecutions

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 576 | Recorded: August 10, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/576

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/F5o0rNBgbJU

#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #ArmenianChurch #GareginII #TRIPP #ArmeniaRussia #SouthCaucasus #Groong

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Hrant Mikaelian about Armenia's Western pivot and the opening of the new parliament. We discuss Ruben Rubinyan's appointment as speaker, Armenia-Russia-EAEU relations, lessons from the 44-Day War, European aid for Armenia, the role of the Armenian Church in national identity, and Armenia's economic direction amid geopolitical pressure.

Topics:

• New Armenian Parliament
• Armenia-Russia-EAEU Relations
• EUropean Aid for Armenia
• Church & National Identity
• Armenian Economy

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 575 | Recorded: August 4, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/575

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/RqKRA70wRLc

#Armenia #Russia #EuropeanUnion #ArmenianPolitics #ArmeniaRussia #ArmenianChurch #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics

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In this week's Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discuss Armenia's new parliament sworn in on August 2, 2026, and the Armenia Alliance's direct challenge to Civil Contract over Tigranashen. We examine the government's evasive responses on territorial red lines, Armenia's challenge to Russia's railway concession, and how TRIPP reshapes regional power dynamics in the South Caucasus.

Topics:

• New parliament is sworn in
• Tigranashen and Armenia's territorial red lines
• Civil Contract's evasive enclave answers
• Armenia challenges Russia's railway concession
• TRIPP reshapes regional power and transit

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 574 | Recorded: August 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/574

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dSzzQC3-ECA

#ArmenianNews #Tigranashen #ArmenianRailways #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #ArmeniaRussia #ZangezurCorridor #Geopolitics

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Pietro Shakarian about memory, repression, and state power in Armenia across Soviet and contemporary periods. We discuss the Great Purge in Soviet Armenia, the assassination of Aghasi Khanjyan, the suppression of Armenian national institutions under Stalin and Beria, and the parallels between Stalinist erasure and current efforts to control public memory, symbols, and mourning in post-Artsakh Armenia under the Civil Contract regime.

Topics:

• Erasing memory across Yerevan
• Great Purge in Soviet Armenia
• Khanjyan's assassination and Beria
• Repression of Armenia's national institutions
• Remembering Stalinist repression
• Historical parallels with modern Armenia
• Attacks on memory and Church
• Opposition strategy after the election

Guest: Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 573 | Recorded: July 31, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/573

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Y7Zwv-ZH6uc

#Armenia #GreatPurge #AghasiKhanjyan #PietroShakarian #Artsakh #ArmenianChurch #PoliticalRepression #MemoryUnderSiege #Authoritarianism #SovietArmenia

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Christine Arakelian about American foreign policy fractures, Iran war risks, and Armenia's pivot to the West. We discuss whether the United States has coherent foreign policy, the collapse of the MAGA coalition over Forever Wars, NATO 3.0 and Europe's militarization, and how Pashinyan's post-2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election government is navigating TRIPP amid global instability.

Topics:

• US Foreign Policy & the Fracture of MAGA
• Iran and the Risk of Forever Wars
• NATO 3.0 and Europe's Militarization
• Post-2026 Election Armenia
• TRIPP and Pashinyan's Pivot to the West

Guest: Christine A. Arakelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 572 | Recorded: July 29, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/572

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/aFGknXV57a4

#Russia #IranWar #UkraineWar #SouthCaucasus #Armenia #TRIPP #Geopolitics #Eurasia

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In this week's edition of the Armenian News podcast, Hovik and Asbed analyze escalating regional tensions as Ukraine expands operations into the Caspian Sea, striking Iranian and Russian assets. We examine how this merger of the Northern and Southern conflicts affects Armenia, Kazakhstan's energy security, and Pashinyan's diplomatic positioning amid new pressure from Western capitals following Aliyev's recent visits to Germany and Berlin.

Topics:

• Ukraine expands its war into the Caspian
• Iran warns of a wider regional response
• Russia and the West test stalled diplomacy
• Aliyev positions Baku as a geopolitical hub
• Armenia faces pressure over EU alignment
• Baku POW abuse and their deteriorating health
• Housing policy expose domestic failures

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 571 | Recorded: July 27, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/571

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/boe2261X_bM

#Armenia #UkraineWar #Iran #CaspianSea #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #ArmenianPOWs #Geopolitics

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Archil Sikharulidze about Russia's shifting strategy in the South Caucasus and Armenia and Georgia's diverging paths. We discuss Moscow's assessment of Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process developments, Georgia's widening dispute with Europe, Armenia's shift away from Russia, and how regional transit corridors reshape geopolitical competition between Moscow, Brussels, and Washington.

Topics:

• Russia's changing South Caucasus strategy
• Georgia's widening dispute with Europe
• Armenia's shift away from Russia
• Georgia's role in regional transit
• Armenia-Georgia ties under pressure

Guest: Archil Sikharulidze

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 570 | Recorded: July 24, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/570

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_Cr0HFioCfA

#Armenia #Georgia #Russia #EuropeanUnion #SouthCaucasus #GeorgianDream #NikolPashinyan #MiddleCorridor

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Anthony Barsamian about Armenian Diaspora advocacy, Armenia-Diaspora relations, and the next phase of Armenian-American activism. We discuss decades of work securing U.S.-Armenia relations and aid packages, the achievement of U.S. Armenian Genocide recognition and what comes next, and the role of the Armenian Republic in promoting international genocide recognition-including recent developments with Israeli recognition efforts.

Topics:

• Armenian-American advocacy and its next phase
• Genocide recognition, justice, and reparations
• Church-state conflict and national unity

Guest: Anthony J. Barsamian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 569 | Recorded: July 21, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/569

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/DZe1ltgELys

#ArmenianDiaspora #AnthonyBarsamian #ArmenianGenocide #ArmenianChurch #ArmeniaDiaspora #SouthCaucasus

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In this week's Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed break down escalating tensions across the Middle East as the US-Iran war intensifies following the collapse of the June ceasefire. We examine the strategic implications for Armenia and the South Caucasus, the role of TRIPP advocates like Konstantin Sokolov, and how regional instability intersects with Pashinyan's political vulnerabilities at home, including charges against Archbishop Galstanyan and ongoing Armenian POW cases.

Topics:

• US-Iran War Continues
• Summer Lull in Yerevan Politics
• Konstantin Sokolov: Master of TRIPP & Teghut
• UN: Abp. Galstanyan Charges Unjustified
• Armenian POW Slams Pashinyan from Baku

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 568 | Recorded: July 20, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/568

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/zx2g2_dWLGc

#IranWar #TRIPP #Teghut #Armenia #PoliticalPrisoners #ArmenianPOWs #KonstantinSokolov

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In this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed cover the 36th NATO summit in Ankara, escalating Iran war developments, and Armenia's removal of murals honoring fallen soldiers. We discuss NATO's defense spending surge, Trump's shift on Turkey and F-35 access, Ukraine aid commitments, and what these geopolitical shifts mean for Armenia and the South Caucasus amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations.

Topics:

• NATO summit in Ankara
• Iran War Update
• Taking Scissors to Armenia
• Shaping the Parliament
• OSCE vs. Garegin II

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/567

#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about Russia's strategic position across multiple fronts: the Ukraine War, Armenia's post-election Western pivot, TRIPP and Syunik, and Europe's rearmament against Russia. We discuss the long-term confrontation between Russia and NATO, Pashinyan's Western alignment after the June 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, and how transport corridors in the South Caucasus may reshape regional containment lines.

Topics:

• Ukraine's long war and endgame
• Novorossiya and a landlocked Ukraine?
• Europe rearms against Russia
• NATO 3.0 and containment
• Armenia's post-election Western pivot
• EU promises versus EAEU dependence
• TRIPP, Syunik, and Russian red lines

Guest: Dmitry Suslov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 566 | Recorded: July 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/566

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/NFS46vZ039Q

#Russia #UkraineWar #NATO #Europe #Armenia #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Syunik #EAEU

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Sergey Markedonov about Russia's strategic position amid the Ukraine War and its implications for Armenia. We discuss why Moscow remains bogged down in Ukraine despite its military superiority, how the war of attrition shapes Russian bandwidth for the South Caucasus, the geopolitical role of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, and Pashinyan's Western pivot following the June 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.

Topics:

• Ukraine's war of attrition
• Russia's strategic bandwidth problem
• TRIPP and Iran's red lines
• Israel's Armenian Genocide move
• Armenia's Western pivot after elections

Guest: Sergey Markedonov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 565 | Recorded: July 8, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/565

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/YqsHd8TSyHQ

#ArmenianNews #SouthCaucasus #UkraineWar #Russia #Armenia #EAEU #TRIPP #Geopolitics

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In this episode of Groong Week in Review for July 5, 2026, Hovik and Asbed analyze Armenia's Constitutional Court ruling upholding the disputed 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election results. We examine the disqualification of Prosperous Armenia votes, Civil Contract's three-fifths majority, the opposition's parliamentary leverage, and what these outcomes mean for Armenian sovereignty amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process negotiations and regional pressures.

Topics:

• Court rubber stamps stolen elections
• Von der Leyen in the South Caucasus
• EU connectivity push in Caucasus
• Rubinyan vs. Simonyan
• Post-election opposition raids begin
• IMEI or IMEI not

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/564

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oSgxiwpIwWw

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Amb. Dziunik Aghajanian about the Iran-Israel conflict, Armenia's 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election aftermath, and Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We discuss whether the US-Iran MOU represents genuine de-escalation or a tactical pause before renewed confrontation, the Constitutional Court's review of election fraud allegations against the Civil Contract regime, and Russia's warnings to Armenia amid regional instability.

Topics:

• US-Iran MoU
• Election Aftermath
• Russian Warnings to Armenia
• Israeli Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

Guest: Dziunik Aghajanian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 563 | Recorded: July 1, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/563

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vgl4sRDGiTY

#ArmenianNews #IranWar #DziunikAghajanian #ArmenianElections #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianGenocide

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In this week's Groong Week in Review, Hovik and Asbed discuss Israel's historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Russia's ongoing warnings toward Armenia, and the political uncertainty following the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We examine the geopolitical context behind Israel's decision, Pashinyan's measured response, and what these developments signal about Armenia's regional position amid shifting US-Turkey relations and broader Middle East tensions.

Topics:

• Israel Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
• Russian Warnings Continue
• Post Election Limbo

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 562 | Recorded: June 29, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/562

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/35N6GqdKnLk

#ArmenianGenocide #Armenia #Israel #Pashinyan #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus

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In this Groong Week in Review episode, Hovik and Asbed examine the fallout from Armenia's 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Elections, the ongoing US-Iran War ceasefire negotiations and their regional implications, and escalating political persecutions following the vote. We discuss how six opposition parties-including Strong Armenia, Armenia Alliance, Prosperous Armenia, and others-have challenged the election results at the Constitutional Court, Russia's continued criticism of Pashinyan's government amid an economic embargo, and Armenia-Azerbaijan telecommunications developments amid broader geopolitical uncertainty in the South Caucasus.

Topics:

• US-Iran Negotiations
• Russian Embargo
• Election Aftermath
• Persecutions Continue
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Telco Agreement

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 561 | Recorded: June 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/561

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/UYNTds7GVGE

#ArmenianNews #Armenia #Iran #USIranTalks #ArmenianElections #SouthCaucasus #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Arman Grigoryan about US-Iran negotiations and Armenia's contested post-election landscape. We discuss the prospects for a US-Iran agreement, its implications for TRIPP and Iran-Russia relations, the aftermath of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, and how shifting great-power dynamics reshape the South Caucasus.

Topics:

• US-Iran negotiations and regional risks
• TRIPP and shifting regional power
• Armenia's contested post-election landscape
• Opposition failures and future strategy
• Risks of another parliamentary election

Guest: Arman Grigoryan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 560 | Recorded: June 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/560

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SU6w4phqqGk

#ArmeniaElections #USIranNegotiations #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Iran #ArmanGrigoryan

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Hrant Mikaelian about the disputed aftermath of Armenia's June 7, 2026 parliamentary election. We discuss allegations of electoral fraud, threats against opposition parties, the Anti-Corruption Committee's proposed ban on opposition groups, Armenia-Russia tensions following the vote, and the EU's financial support for Armenian agricultural exports amid Russian sanctions.

Topics:

• Election aftermath and disputed legitimacy
• Threats against opposition parties
• Armenia-Russia tensions after vote
• EU lifeline for Armenian exports
• Polling failures and hidden votes

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/559

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling

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In this episode of Groong Week in Review for June 14, 2026, we analyze the aftermath of Armenia's 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, shifting Armenia-Georgia relations, and a landmark interim US-Iran agreement that reshapes regional stability. We discuss the ceasefire framework, sanctions relief, and how the Iran war's resolution affects Armenian security, energy markets, and the broader South Caucasus landscape.

Topics:

• Armenian Election Aftermath
• Armenia-Georgia Relations
• US-Iran Interim Agreement

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 558 | Recorded: June 15, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/558

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ioSlOhVsLFo

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #ArmenianElections #CivilContract #Pashinyan #ArmenianConstitution #Referendum #ProsperousArmenia #SouthCaucasus #CEC

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Arthur G. Martirosyan about Armenia's contested 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election and Pashinyan's path to a third term. We discuss whether the vote was free and fair, how state pressure and Western backing shaped the outcome, the razor-thin thresholds that determine parliamentary representation, Pashinyan's post-election crackdown against the Established Opposition, and what a Civil Contract supermajority would mean for Armenia's governance and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process.

Topics:

• Contested results and thresholds
• Pashinyan's post-election crackdown
• Western backing and interference
• Russia's delayed pressure campaign
• Opposition choices after the vote

Guest: Arthur G. Martirosyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 557 | Recorded: June 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/557

#ArmenianElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #ArmenianOpposition

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In this episode of Groong Week in Review, we analyze the disputed results of Armenia's June 7, 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We examine Civil Contract's contested majority, alleged irregularities and invalid ballots, the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary report, the last-minute exclusion of Prosperous Armenia, opposition arrests and pressure, and what a three-fifths majority could mean for Armenia's courts, institutions, and foreign policy.

Topics:

• Disputed mandate, unresolved majority
• Election-day irregularities in plain sight
• ODIHR's mixed preliminary verdict
• Bribery replaced by state spending
• Opposition's next steps uncertain

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 556 | Recorded: Jun 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/556

Try the Groong Podcast App

#ArmenianElections #ArmenianNews #CivilContract #Pashinyan #Election2026 #SouthCaucasus

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In this Spotlight on Silence episode, we speak with Rafael Ishkhanyan of the Armenian Center for Political Rights about selective justice and state pressure ahead of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We discuss wiretaps and leaks targeting opposition figures, abuse of hate speech laws against government critics, military service summons used as political coercion, and Pashinyan's threats against political opponents and Artsakh Armenians.

Topics:

• Selective law enforcement before elections
• Wiretaps, leaks, and campaign pressure
• Hate speech laws against critics
• Official threats without consequences
• Military summons as political coercion

Guest: Rafael Ishkhanyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 555 | Recorded: June 4, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/555

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wSZ7eO3JIKQ

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HumanRights #PoliticalPersecution #Artsakh #RafaelIshkhanyan #Groong

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Philippe Raffi Kalfayan about Armenia's deteriorating democratic conditions ahead of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We discuss IODA's second election observation mission, widespread arrests of opposition figures, state intimidation of voters, selective prosecution, and the serious threats to electoral legitimacy and civil rights under the Civil Contract regime.

Topics:

• Arrests of government critics
• State pressure on voters
• Public resources used for campaigns
• Selective prosecution before elections
• Election legitimacy under serious doubt

Guest: Philippe Raffi Kalfayan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 554 | Recorded: June 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/554

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/L9vKGO5Ezr4

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #Election2026 #IODA #OSCE #ODIHR #Geopolitics #Democracy

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In this episode of Groong's Week in Review, hosts Hovik and Asbed examine Armenia's May 28 Independence Day parade as campaign theater, Marco Rubio's push for critical minerals deals, and the strategic risks of TRIPP in Syunik. We discuss how Pashinyan's military parade coincides with Armenian prisoners of war held hostage in Baku, the questionable financing of weapons through $8 billion in external debt, and the broader geopolitical pressures from Russia and Iran as Armenia heads into the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.

Topics:

• May 28 and Statehood
• Parade as Campaign Theater
• Rubio's Armenia Agreements
• Minerals Without Guarantees
• TRIPP Risks in Syunik
• Russia and Iran Pushback
• Election Climate and Repression

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 553 | Recorded: June 1, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/553

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oO5kbg6B_Q8

#Armenia #May28 #MarcoRubio #TRIPP #Syunik #CriticalMinerals #ElectionFraud #RussiaArmenia

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In this Conversations on Groong episode, Hovik and Asbed speak with Dr. Sergey Markedonov about the sharp decline in Russia-Armenia relations before Armenia's June parliamentary elections. The discussion explores whether the vote is only a domestic contest, or a broader struggle over Armenia's identity, security, and geopolitical direction after Artsakh. Topics include Pashinyan's "Real Armenia" project, TRIPP and regional balance, Russia's warnings over Armenia's EU pivot, pressure on Armenian exports and energy pricing, the role of the Armenian Church, and whether the EU offers Armenia a real strategic alternative or only short-term political support.

Topics:

• TRIPP and Regional Balance
• Armenia's Geopolitical Election
• Pashinyan's "Real Armenia"
• Russia's Economic Pressure

Guest: Sergey Markedonov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 552 | Recorded: May 31, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/552

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5K3xqqYouKs

#RussiaArmenia #SergeyMarkedonov #ArmeniaElections #Pashinyan #RealArmenia #TRIPP #EAEU #SouthCaucasus

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Arthur Khachatryan of the Hayastan Dashinq, Armenia Alliance about the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election scheduled for June 7. We discuss whether free and fair elections are possible given foreign interference from the West, abuse of administrative resources by the ruling Civil Contract party, media control, and competing pressures from the United States, EU, Russia, and regional actors including Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Topics:

• Free and fair elections
• Polls and opposition unity
• Hayastan Dashinq platform
• TRIPP and foreign policy
• Economy and Russian pressure

Guest: Arthur Khachatryan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 551 | Recorded: May 30, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/551

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/uQn81n-zHcw

#ArmeniaElections #ArthurKhachatryan #HayastanDashinq #ArmenianOpposition #Pashinyan #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Groong

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This Week in Review examines the tightening political climate in Armenia ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Asbed and Hovik discuss Marco Rubio's sudden Armenia visit, new polling from IRI, MPG, and CAEAC, and what the wide gaps in voter disclosure may reveal about hidden opposition support. The episode also covers TRIPP, "Western Azerbaijan" rhetoric, public trust in the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the growing use of arrests, threats, and state pressure against opposition figures. The discussion centers on Pashinyan's escalating campaign rhetoric, including his "Why are you alive?" outburst, and what it signals about the stakes of the coming election.

Topics:

• Rubio's sudden Armenia visit
• Polls diverge before election
• Hidden vote raises questions
• TRIPP remains deeply polarizing
• "Western Azerbaijan" pressure grows
• Opposition faces arrests, threats
• "Why are you alive?" campaign rhetoric

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/550

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WVDpm63f6GA

#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition

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This Conversations on Groong episode features Edgar Elbakyan in a broad discussion of Armenia's upcoming election and the wider political climate around it. The conversation looks at whether this vote marks a turning point for Armenia, how public fear and pressure shape voter behavior, and why polling results differ so sharply. It also examines the main political forces, the chances for an opposition coalition, and whether the campaign is addressing the core questions of statehood, sovereignty, and public trust.

Topics:

• Armenia's existential election
• Polling under fear
• Divergent polling results
• Church and state conflict
• Post-election street pressure

Guest: Edgar Elbakyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 549 | Recorded: May 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/549

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rnhFD2eprzI

#Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #EdgarElbakyan #StrongArmenia #ArmeniaAlliance #ArmeniaElections

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This Conversations on Groong episode provides a primer on Armenia's June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, reviewing the 17 parties and 2 alliances registered to compete. The discussion explains the election rules, thresholds, coalition process, and the "stable majority" mechanism, while stressing the uneven political environment facing opposition forces. The episode then walks through each participant, including Civil Contract, Strong Armenia, Armenia Alliance, Prosperous Armenia, Wings of Unity, Bright Armenia, ANC, Bever, Republic, DOK, Democratic Consolidation, and smaller parties with limited visibility or missing programs. The hosts compare party leaders, alliances, campaign programs, polling numbers, foreign policy orientations, and positions on major issues such as Artsakh, Russia, the West, Iran, TRIPP, CSTO, and opposition unity. The episode also introduces a geopolitical heatmap to help listeners see where the main forces stand and which parties appear most likely to enter parliament based on MPG polling.

Topics:

• Armenia's election rules
• Parties and alliances competing
• MPG polling and thresholds
• Opposition challenges and turnout
• Geopolitical positions heatmap

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 548 | Recorded: May 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/548

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Ok-1CTqD670

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #ArmenianPolitics #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #HayastanDashinq

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This Week in Review covers a tense mix of global and Armenian political crises, from Trump's summit with Xi Jinping and the deepening Iran war, to Armenia's worsening relations with Russia and the risks to trade, energy, and security ties. Hovik and Asbed also examine Armenia's heated election climate, including allegations of state pressure, abuse of administrative resources, selective law enforcement, Pashinyan's violent campaign rhetoric against opposition leaders, and the muted response of international observers. The episode also looks at Robert Kocharyan's call for major-power guarantees for peace with Azerbaijan, and the vandalism of the Sourp Nshan Armenian Church in Javakhk.

Topics:

• Trump, China, and Iran
• Armenia-Russia "soft divorce"
• Pashinyan's violent campaign rhetoric
• State resources and election pressure
• Javakhk church vandalism concerns

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 547 | Recorded: May 18, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/547

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/XrhKanb6QDg

#Pashinyan #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianPolitics #PoliticalViolence #HateSpeech #ArmeniaRussia #IranWar #SouthCaucasus

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Dr. Arman Grigoryan joins Groong to discuss Armenia's post-2020 foreign policy and his argument that Pashinyan's government has replaced one failed project, maximalist claims over Artsakh, with another: a risky strategic pivot away from Russia and toward the West. The conversation examines "revolutionary recklessness," the roots of the 2020 war, Armenia's worsening ties with Russia, the surrender of Artsakh, TRIPP and Syunik, Western encouragement, and the absence of firm security guarantees. Grigoryan also considers whether Armenia is gaining real sovereignty or exposing itself to greater pressure from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia.

Topics:

• Revolutionary recklessness after 2020
• Armenia's pivot away from Russia
• Artsakh's surrender and strategic reorientation
• TRIPP, Syunik, and security guarantees
• Western backing, Armenian risk

Guest: Arman Grigoryan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 546 | Recorded: May 13, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/546

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/K3fj1Y35Dsw

#ArmanGrigoryan #Armenia #Russia #Pashinyan #Artsakh #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics

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In this Week in Review, we discuss the fallout from the EPC summit in Yerevan, Armenia’s role as a platform for anti-Russian messaging, and Putin’s warning about a possible “separation” if Armenia moves toward the EU. They examine the Armenia-EU declaration, focusing on TRIPP, Ukraine, hybrid threats, security cooperation, visa liberalization, and the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. The episode then turns to Armenia’s election campaign, Pashinyan’s claim that Artsakh was “never ours,” Aliyev’s parallel messaging from occupied Artsakh, pressure on opposition figures, the Swiss Peace Initiative, and sharp divergence between election polls.

Topics:

• EPC fallout and Russia response
• Armenia-EU declaration controversies
• Pashinyan's Artsakh campaign narrative
• Aliyev-Pashinyan tag-team messaging
• Swiss Peace Initiative
• Pollsters diverge on election forecasts

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 545 | Recorded: May 12, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/545

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pLYUk6q9Wx4

#WeekInReview #Armenia #SwissPeaceInitiative #NagornoKarabakh #Artsakh

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Anna Grigoryan of Hayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance) joins Groong to discuss Armenia's June 7 parliamentary election and the start of the official campaign. The conversation examines the EPC and Armenia-EU summits in Yerevan, EU political and financial support for Pashinyan, Aliyev's remote demarche, and opposition protests around Artsakh rights, Armenian prisoners, and democratic backsliding. The episode also covers opposition coalition math, Hayastan Dashinq's 8% bloc threshold, Strong Armenia's lead among opposition forces, possible post-election governing formulas, and the risks of a falsified vote. Grigoryan also discusses Armenia's foreign policy direction, the peace treaty with Azerbaijan, TRIPP and Syunik amid the Iran war, education as a national priority, and Hayastan Dashinq's core message to voters.

Topics:

• Election campaign and opposition strategy
• EPC, EU-Armenia summit, and foreign influence
• Foreign policy, security, and regional risks
• Domestic priorities and election integrity

Guest: Anna Grigoryan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 544 | Recorded: May 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/544

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SV2I8iBr9ss

#AnnaGrigoryan #Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #ArmeniaElections #HayastanDashinq #EPCSummit #TRIPP #Artsakh

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Hovhannes Ishkhanyan and Nare Navasardyan discuss the growing role of the EU, fact-checking networks, and counter-disinformation programs in Armenia's 2026 election environment. The conversation examines claims of foreign interference, the use of "hybrid threats" and "disinformation" labels against domestic dissent, and the political bias of Armenia's fact-checking ecosystem. The guests also share personal experiences with lawsuits, public confrontation, protest, and censorship, raising broader questions about free speech, election fairness, and the management of Armenia's information space.

Topics:

• EU role in Armenia's elections
• Fact-checkers and political bias
• Dissent labeled as disinformation
• Lawsuits, pressure, and intimidation
• Censorship and social media control

Guests:

• Nare Navasardyan
• Hovhannes Ishkhanyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 543 | Recorded: May 7, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/543

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wapw0tYOafg

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #EU #Disinformation #FactChecking #Censorship #CivilSociety #FreeSpeech

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This Conversations on Groong episode examines the Vedi abuse case, a disturbing story involving alleged sexual abuse of vulnerable minors and serious questions about Armenia's law-enforcement response. Attorney Tatevik Soghoyan joins the program to discuss the known timeline, the delays between the first reports and arrests, the treatment of the victims, and the public statements by investigators and government officials. The discussion focuses on whether this was a local failure, a systemic breakdown, or a deeper case of political responsibility, while asking what Armenia's justice and child-protection systems must do to prevent such cases from being ignored, delayed, or mishandled.

Topics:

• Vedi abuse case timeline
• Law-enforcement delays and failures
• Victim protection and privacy
• Political responsibility and accountability
• Child-protection system breakdown

Guest:

• Tatevik Soghoyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 542 | Recorded: May 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/542

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/jP9QJuMwDNo

#VediCase #ChildProtection #JusticeForChildren #RuleOfLaw #Accountability #Armenia #HumanRights #VictimsRights

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Dr. Anatol Lieven joins us to examine Russia’s place in a rapidly shifting global order. The discussion looks at the war in Ukraine, the state of Russia-EU relations after Viktor Orbán’s political defeat, and the uncertain trajectory of the war on Iran, including whether any real diplomatic offramp still exists. They also explore whether Russia’s relationship with Iran is truly strategic or mainly transactional, how China fits into the wider balance of power, and what all of this means for the South Caucasus, Armenia’s current path under Pashinyan, and Azerbaijan’s ambitions to turn wartime leverage into lasting regional influence.

Topics

• Russia, Iran, Europe, multipolar order
• Ukraine war and Russia-West tensions
• Iran war and diplomatic offramps
• Armenia, TRIPP, South Caucasus

Guest: Anatol Lieven

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 541 | Recorded: May 5, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/541

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bnwKcnMSZTk

#AnatolLieven #Russia #Iran #Europe #UkraineWar #SouthCaucasus

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This Conversations on Groong episode with Mikael Darbinian examines Armenia’s security crisis through the lens of the Strong Armenia doctrine. The discussion focuses on deterrence, diplomacy from a position of strength, Azerbaijani positions inside Armenia’s sovereign territory, the risks around TRIPP and the Zangezur Corridor, the rights of Artsakh Armenians, regional war scenarios involving Iran, and the gap between international political theater and Armenia’s unresolved national security threats.

Topics:

• Strong Armenia security doctrine
• Azerbaijani occupation of Armenian territory
• TRIPP and Zangezur Corridor risks
• Diplomacy from a position of strength
• EPC optics and national insecurity

Guest: Mikael Darbinian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 540 | Recorded: May 5, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/540

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/LhnSc26cT7c

#Armenia #Artsakh #StrongArmenia #MikaelDarbinian #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #ArmenianSecurity #SouthCaucasus

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This Groong Week in Review examines a volatile week across Armenia and the region. Asbed and Hovik discuss Trump’s declared ceasefire with Iran, the failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad, the continuing naval blockade, and the wider political pressure shaping Washington’s war posture. The episode also covers “Operation Kochari,” the secret visit of Azerbaijani deputy prime minister Shahin Mustafayev to Armenia, border demarcation, TRIPP, and the political theater around trade with Azerbaijan. The discussion turns to Azerbaijan’s destruction of the Stepanakert cathedral, the muted international response, and Pashinyan’s comments on the issue. The hosts also analyze the latest MPG poll, opposition coalition math, election fraud concerns, the EPC meeting, legal pressure on the opposition, mass surveillance, and Armenia’s falling press freedom ranking.

Topics:

• Iran War
• Mustafayev in Armenia
• Destruction of the Stepanakert cathedral by Azerbaijan
• Election politics

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 539 | Recorded: May 2, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/539

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/eIIg1IWYm1w

#Armenia #Azerbaijan #IranWar #TRIPP #Artsakh #Stepanakert #ArmenianElections #Groong

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In this Conversations on Groong episode, Hrair Balian joins us to discuss his book Anatomy of Peacemaking: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict & Missed Opportunities, the failure of diplomacy around Artsakh, and what Armenia should learn from the long collapse of the peace process. The conversation also looks at the Iran war, US and Israeli goals in the region, the TRIPP/Zangezur Corridor and its security impact on Armenia, and the role of outside powers in shaping outcomes in the South Caucasus. The episode closes with a discussion of Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, opposition repression, election monitoring, and whether international observers will judge the vote by facts on the ground or political convenience.

Mr. Balian's book: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Peacemaking-Nagorno-Karabakh-Opportunities-Rethinking/dp/3032124891

Topics:

• US-Iran war and failed diplomacy
• TRIPP and Armenia’s security risks
• Karabakh negotiations and missed chances
• Pashinyan’s Artsakh policy reversal
• Armenia’s June elections and monitoring

Guest: Hrair Balian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 538 | Recorded: April 30, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/538

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5ubpIoBjAI0

#HrairBalian #Groong #Armenia #Artsakh #NagornoKarabakh #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #ArmenianElections

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In this Conversations on Groong episode, we speak with Arega Hovsepyan of the Strong Armenia party about Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections, opposition politics, and the shifting geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus. The discussion covers recent arrests of Strong Armenia members, political pressure on the opposition, and concerns about democratic processes under Pashinyan. We also examine the situation of displaced Artsakh Armenians, including rights, return, voting access, and living conditions in Armenia. The episode explores competing narratives around “peace” with Azerbaijan, the implications of the Zangezur Corridor or TRIPP project, and how regional dynamics involving Iran, Russia, and Turkey shape Armenia’s security and political future. 

Topics:

• Strong Armenia and election dynamics
• New arrests and political pressure
• Artsakh Armenians and their rights
• TRIPP corridor and regional security

Guest: Arega Hovsepyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 537 | Recorded: Apr 28, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/537

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/G2lysDT6SSQ

#Armenia #Artsakh #StrongArmenia #AregaHovsepyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #Geopolitics

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IuqGI9y6PGw

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #Election2026 #IODA #OSCE #ODIHR #Geopolitics #Democracy

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In this episode of the Groong podcast, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about the shifting geopolitical landscape across the Iran war, the Ukraine conflict, and the South Caucasus. We examine the fragile state of the Iran war and its impact on global trade and regional escalation, Russia’s strategic positioning, and the potential for a broader conflict involving Azerbaijan and Turkey. The discussion then turns to the Ukraine war, focusing on attrition, Europe’s growing militarization, and the prospects for a long-term Russia–Europe confrontation. Finally, we explore Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus, including Armenia’s political trajectory, tensions following Pashinyan’s Moscow visit, and the broader balance of power shaping Armenia’s future.

Topics:

• Iran war dynamics and Russia’s role
• Ukraine war and Europe’s militarization
• Armenia’s pivot and Russia’s response
• Regional power balance

Guest

• Dr. Dmitry Suslov

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 534 | Recorded: April 24, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/534

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kjUQN8LVuFk

#Russia #IranWar #UkraineWar #SouthCaucasus #Armenia #TRIPP #Geopolitics #Eurasia

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In this Conversations on Groong episode, Warwick Powell joins us to examine the Iran war through the lens of thermoeconomics, energy flows, de-dollarization, and shifting global power. We discuss how oil, gas, AI, data centers, and financial infrastructure shape modern conflict, why the dollar-based order is under pressure, and how BRICS and the Global South are responding. The conversation also looks at techno-economic sovereignty, thermoeconomic imperialism, and the wider geopolitical stakes for the emerging world order.

Warwick Powell’s Book: Thermoeconomics in a Time of Monsters: Rethinking Theory, China and International Geopolitical Economy

Topics:

• Thermoeconomics and global power
• Iran war and energy
• De-dollarization and sovereignty
• Armenia: AI data centers, SMRs, and imperialism

Guest: Warwick Powell

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 533 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/533

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8upbRV0lzjE

#WarwickPowell #IranWar #Thermoeconomics #DeDollarization #EnergyPolitics #GlobalSouth #BRICS #AI #Geopolitics #DataCenters #Geoeconomics

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In this Week in Review episode, Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian discusses the stalled Iran negotiations after the Islamabad talks, the renewed pressure around Hormuz and the naval blockade, Turkey’s posture toward Israel and the region; Armenia’s lower-profile participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum; Russia’s shifting rhetoric on TRIPP and the South Caucasus; and the June 7 parliamentary election in Armenia, including constitutional changes, border concessions, the gas pipeline rerouting issue, and the use of surveillance and arrests against opposition figures.

Topics

• Iran War Update
• Antalya Diplomatic Forum
• Armenian Parliamentary Election

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 532 | Recorded: April 20, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/532

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Topics:

• Iran War Update
• 2016 April War
• Aftermath of Pashinyan in Moscow
• Domestic Politics & Election

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 530 | Recorded: April 7, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/530

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/QAkX9PiR484

#Groong #Armenia #IranWar #Pashinyan #ArmenianNews

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In this episode, we examine a fast-moving regional and political landscape, from the collapse of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad and the threat of a new naval blockade, to Viktor Orban’s election loss in Hungary and what it may signal for Armenia and the wider region. We also dig into new polling from Armenia, including public views on security, the Iran war, free speech, voter turnout, and party support ahead of the 2026 elections. Along the way, we look at the Abkhaz railway as a possible alternative trade route, questions around TRIPP and Armenia’s growing dependence on Azerbaijan and Turkey, and what the latest numbers may reveal about the strength, weakness, and strategy of Armenia’s opposition.

Topics: 

• US-Iran Talks in Pakistan
• Orban Loses Hungary Elections
• Armenian Parliamentary Elections
• Polls: MPG, IRI, ARAR, EVN

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 531 | Recorded: April 14, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/531

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ZzhV5xsXFks

#Armenia #IranWar #ArmenianPolitics #HungaryElections #ArmeniaPolls

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Pietro Shakarian joins Hovik and Asbed to examine the Iran war, its impact on Russia, Ukraine, and the wider Eurasian balance, and what it means for Armenia’s security and foreign policy. The discussion also looks at Pashinyan’s strained Moscow visit, the uncertain future of TRIPP, Armenia-Russia tensions, and the fast-forming landscape of Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, including the opposition field, campaign narratives, and the stakes for the country’s political future.

Topics:
  - The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
  - Armenia-Russia Relations
  - Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Guest: Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:
  - Hovik Manucharyan
  - Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 529 | Recorded: April 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/529

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis
#ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

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Our guest Anna Karapetyan focused on the widening Iran war and its possible fallout for Armenia, then turned to the narratives shaping Armenia’s election season. The discussion examined Pashinyan’s claim to have delivered peace, the taboo around speaking about Artsakh and Artsakhtsis’ rights, the uncertainty around the TRIPP corridor project, the political use of fear that an opposition victory would bring war, and the security and environmental questions surrounding a proposed AI data center. In the closing segment, the participants reflected on the broader propaganda environment in Armenia and on Formula 1’s continued partnership with authoritarian states such as Azerbaijan.

Topics

• Iran war escalation and spillover
• Pashinyan’s Fake “peace” narratives
• Elections built on fear-mongering
• Silencing talk of Artsakh

Guest

• Anna Karapetyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 528 | Recorded: March 30, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/528

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This Week in Review featured Asbed and Hovik without a guest. We discussed the death of Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Armenian government’s blocking of Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II from attending the funeral; the latest turn in the Iran war and what it could mean for Armenia and the wider region; Israel’s renewed ground operation in southern Lebanon; and Armenia’s June elections, including political prisoners, media freedom, Civil Contract’s campaign tactics, the opposition field, EU involvement, and Strong Armenia’s messaging on TRIPP and security.

Topics

• Karekin II travel-banned from attending Catholicos Ilia II Funeral
• Iran War update
• Armenian June Elections

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 527 | Recorded: March 23, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/527

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South Korean travel blogger YoungMin visited Artsakh after Azerbaijan's 2023 ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, becoming one of the few independent foreign visitors to document conditions on the ground after more than 100,000 Armenians were forced from their ancestral homeland. In this episode, YoungMin discusses what motivated his trip, what he saw in Stepanakert, Askeran, Agdam, and the surrounding areas, how Azerbaijani state narratives try to frame post-war tourism, and what the empty towns, damaged infrastructure, and erased Armenian presence reveal about the aftermath of the 44-Day War and the destruction of Artsakh.

Topics:
  - YoungMin’s journey into post-2023 Artsakh
  - Controlled access, guided narratives
  - Erasing traces of Armenians
  - In Agdam, Askeran, and Stepanakert
  - Memory, loss, and the aftermath of ethnic cleansing

Guest: YoungMin

Hosts:
  - Hovik Manucharyan
  - Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 526 | Recorded: March 21, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/526

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/j9QYiYFnj68

#artsakh  #Armenia #YoungMin #NagornoKarabakh #EthnicCleansing

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Topics:

• Iran at War
• The Northern Front: Turkey & Azerbaijan
• Changing Nakhijevan's Constitution

Guest: Eldar Mamedov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 525 | Recorded: March 20, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/525

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pWd_-iNIM8E

#GroongPodcast #EldarMamedov #IranWar #Azerbaijan #SouthCaucasus

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• Iran at War
• The Northern Front: Turkey & Azerbaijan
• Changing Nakhijevan’s Constitution

Guest: Varuzhan Geghamyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 524 | Recorded: March 19, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/524

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SQHD3lZxAwc

#IranWar #VaruzhanGeghamyan #ZangezurCorridor #Syunik #ArmeniaGeopolitics

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Arthur Martirosyan examines the ongoing U.S.–Israel war on Iran and its uncertain trajectory, focusing on escalation risks, strategic objectives, and potential diplomatic offramps. The discussion then turns to regional spillover effects, particularly the risks for Armenia amid Iran–Azerbaijan tensions and broader geopolitical shifts. We conclude with an analysis of Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, including the fragmented opposition landscape, concerns about electoral fairness, and contradictions in public opinion reflected in recent polling.

Topics

• Iran War
• Effect on Armenia
• June Parliamentary Elections

Guest

• Arthur G Martirosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/522

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Topics

• Iran War Update
• IRI Poll Review
• Political Landscape

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 521 | Recorded: March 8, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/521

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Topics

• US and Israel launch war against Iran
• Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
• Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
• Armenia leadership silent
• Sumgait remembered

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 2, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

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Topics:

• Iran War Fears
• June Parliamentary Elections
• Attacks on the Armenian Church

Guest: Dziunik Aghajanian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 519 | Recorded: February 25, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/519

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1FFkLOeY2lI

#Armenia #Iran #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianChurch #SouthCaucasus

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In the inaugural Groong Deep History episode, historian Prof. Zaroui Pogossian joins the show to unpack the Vardanank wars and the Battle of Avarayr (451 AD). The conversation sets the longer political and religious context behind the conflict, explains what we can and cannot know from the main Armenian sources, and revisits the standard “moral victory” story through modern source criticism. Pogossian also discusses her work on medieval Armenia and previews an upcoming scholarly volume on Medieval Yeghegis, then uses a critical reading by Hayk Hakobyan to question common assumptions about Avarayr’s scale, geography, and strategy.

Topics:

• Vardanank Wars and The Battle of Avarayr
• Armenian Sources, Yeghishe and Parpetsi
• Politics, Christianity, Nakharar Power Dynamics

Guest: Zaroui Pogossian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 518 | Recorded: February 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/518

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1-o4Gv1v4vw
 
#GroongDeepHistory #Vardanank #BattleOfAvarayr #ArmenianHistory #ZarouiPogossian

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Topics

• Vance visit, protocol and optics
• Tsitsernakaberd tweet, “autocorrect diplomacy”
• TRIPP corridor stake and sovereignty risks
• Nuclear SMR deal, costs and dependency
• Firebird AI project, power and value
• Drones, church silence, Baku charter and prisoners

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 517 | Recorded: February 13, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/517

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/4FEVG-lJVkE

#Groong #Armenia #JDVance #Tsitsernakaberd #TRIPP

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Topics

• A European View of America
• JD Vance in Armenia
• Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church
• Europe and Armenia

Guest

• Philippe Raffi Kalfayan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 516 | Recorded: February 9, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/516

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Conversations on Groong

Topics

• Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine”
• Rules-Based Disorder?
• Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada”
• US Cohesion and Midterms
• JD Vance in the South Caucasus

Guests

• James Carden
• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/515

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• Defining the “Canceling Russia” phenomenon
• The “cancel Russia” lobby
• Containment shifts to coercive transformation
• Russian Orthodox Church as battleground
• Kremlin “towers” and civilizational logic

Books by Tsygankov:

• “Canceling” Russia (2026): https://a.co/d/0izauT7T
• Russia’s Foreign Policy (2025): https://a.co/d/07NNNT6d

Guest: Andrei Tsygankov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 514 | Recorded: February 4, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/514

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WOLR5AuizEQ

#CancelingRussia #RussianForeignPolicy #UkraineWar #StateCivilization #TowersOfTheKremlin #RussianOrthodoxChurch

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Topics:

• CSI Visits Jailed Cleric
• IRF Summit
• PACE MP Speaks Up

Guest: Joel Veldkamp

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 513 | Recorded: February 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/513

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gi1yk302jts

#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #IRFSummit2026 #ChristianSolidarityInternational

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VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dMX6GW54Eek

#Groong #Armenia #FIS #ForeignIntelligence #NationalSecurity #TRIPP

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Topics:

• Memorial Day vs. Army Day
• JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Armenian Church Developments
• Strong Armenia - New Political Party

Guest: Arthur Khachatryan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 510 | Recorded: January 27, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/510

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/czqx5UCdFA0

#GroongWeekInReview #Armenia #RulesBasedOrder #JDVance #TRIPP #ArmenianChurch

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The Critical Corner - Recorded on January 18, 2026

Topics

• Horovel, a cross-border memory project
• Ojakh, a second trip down memory lane
• Gayan, a wider regional lens
• Our Seeds, continuity across generations

Guest

• Erhan Arik

Hosts

• Bedros Afeyan

Episode 508 | Recorded: January 18, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/509

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Topics:

• Syria, Kurds, Turkish advance
• Iran unrest, war postponed
• TRIPP and sovereignty dispute
• 2026 elections, foreign influence

Guest: Sergei Melkonian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 508 | Recorded: January 19, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/508

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/LDI5e7Tcu8k

#ArmenianNews #Syria #Iran #ZangezurCorridor #TRIPP #Geopolitics

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Topics:

• Return of Four Hostages
• Pashinyan vs. Church
• TRIPP
• Armenia Parliamentary Election

Guest

• Anna Grigoryan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 507 | Recorded: January 16, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/507

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/b-qrlL7z6UY 

#AnnaGrigoryan #Armenia #ArmenianPolitics #TRIPP #ArmenianChurch #POWs

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Topics

• Unrest in Iran
• Russia-Iran Partnership
• Solovyov’s Statements
• Trump’s “TRIPP Wire” in the Caucasus
• Release of Armenian hostages

Guest

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 506 | Recorded: January 14, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/506

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/P5u4ppL9qK8

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #Iran #Israel #IsraelConflict #Armenia #USForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #MiddleEastCrisis

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Topics

• Ukraine war’s global cost to Russia
• Iran unrest and war risk
• Remembering the Baku pogroms
• Russia-Armenia tensions and media threats
• Pashinyan’s clash with Armenian Church

Guest

• Arthur Martirosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 505 | Recorded: January 13, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/505

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Topics:

• The Legal Architecture: Autonomy, Exclusive Mission, and State Neutrality
• Engineering Parallel, Schismatic Structures
• Criminal Law as Leverage
• Bern in Action and Reaction
• The Deeper Stakes: National Identity

Guest: Kevork Hagopjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 504 | Recorded: January 12, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/504

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/TD1HLVnKyqc

#Armenia #ArmenianChurch #Etchmiadzin #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom

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Topics:

• Pashinyan Attacks: Geopolitics or Vendetta?
• Renegade Bishops: Demands and Narratives
• Stolen Church Property
• From Christmas to Easter

Guest: Fr. Serop Azarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 503 | Recorded: January 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/503

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/TVEvBdX_Qr4

#ArmenianApostolicChurch #ArmenianChurch #Garegin #Catholicos #NikolPashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora

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Topics

• Venezuela
• Ukraine War
• Russia-Iran Relations
• TRIPP and Russian-Armenian Relations

Guest

• Fyodor Lukyanov (Фёдор Алекса́ндрович Лукья́нов)

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 502 | Recorded: January 8, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/502

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/d1XxQHSZUEE

#FyodorLukyanov #RussiaGeopolitics #UkraineWar #IranIsrael #VenezuelaCrisis #TRIPP

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Topics:

• Developments in Venezuela
• Attacks on Armenian Church Continue
• New MPG Poll Results
• Armenian Economy in 2025 (Jan-Oct)

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 501 | Recorded: January 6, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/501

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ACfF9ryiswE

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In this milestone 500th episode of *Groong Week in Review*, we assess how major external crises are shaping Armenia’s strategic environment in 2025, examine the stalled Armenia–Azerbaijan process, analyze Russia’s posture around TRIPP, and discuss the implications of a change in the U.S. ambassador. The episode concludes with an extended year-end review, where each participant evaluates their 2025 predictions from a year ago (in Episode 403), and presents high-, medium-, and low-probability forecasts for 2026.

Topics

• Foreign Crises Affecting Armenia
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Saga
• Russia and TRIPP
• Change of US Ambassador
• Year-End Review & Outlook

Guest

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 500 | Recorded: January 31, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/500

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In this episode, guest host Bedros Afeyan speaks with documentary filmmaker Diana Mkrtchyan about her feature documentary *Ojakh: On the Other Side of Silence*. The conversation traces the film’s nine-year development, its origins in Turkish photographer Erhan Arik’s *Horovel* project, and the urgent effort to document the last living Armenian Genocide survivors in border villages. The discussion also addresses artistic responsibility, dignity in testimony, cultural memory, censorship, and the continuity between Genocide-era trauma and the recent destruction of Artsakh.

Topics

• Diana Mkrtchyan’s personal and artistic journey
• The origins of *Ojakh* in Erhan Arik’s photographic work
• Filming the final testimonies of Armenian Genocide survivors
• Ethical and technical challenges of documenting trauma
• The erasure of *Ojakh* from official cultural promotion in Armenia
• Cinema as historical record and moral witness
• Mkrtchyan’s Artsakh footage during the blockade

Guest

• Diana Mkrtchyan

Guest Hosts

• Bedros Afeyan

Episode 499 | Recorded: December 27, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/499

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Topics:

• Ukraine War and EU Rift
• Siege on Etchmiadzin and the Church
• Peace Dividend or Political Theater
• TRIPP and Competing Power Claims

Guest: Dziunik Aghajanian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 498 | Recorded: December 23, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/498

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Ui21tqO_d2U

#ArmenianChurch #Etchmiadzin #TRIPP #ArmeniaPolitics #Groong

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This episode examines a growing pattern of political pressure in Armenia, where journalists, lawyers, activists, and clergy are targeted through criminal prosecutions, selective justice, and coordinated propaganda. Drawing on recent cases and legal analysis, the discussion focuses on how laws such as Article 236 are used to constrain speech, protest, and independent institutions.

Topics:

• Criminalization of Speech and Dissent in Armenia
• Legal Pressure on Lawyers, Journalists, and Clergy
• Selective Justice and Coordinated Propaganda
• Article 236 and the Policing of Protest

Armenian Center for Political Rights (ACPR) Reports:

• 2025-10-17 Statement on case of Aleksander Kochubaev: https://bit.ly/4j7thWK 
• 2025-10-27 Statement on case of Ruben Mkhitaryan: https://bit.ly/4aopzFR 
• 2025-11-14 Statement on case of Antifake: http://bit.ly/48YZOtr
• 2025-12-06 Injustice in Armenia - Part I: https://bit.ly/4qAzhtN

Guest: Rafael Ishkhanyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 497 | Recorded: December 13, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/497

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/-aRS_GqoCjE

#SpotlightOnSilence #ArmeniaJustice #PoliticalPrisoners #FreedomOfSpeech #RuleOfLaw #HumanRights #Groong

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In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we examine how Venezuela’s vast oil reserves have become entangled in global conflict. The discussion links US pressure on Caracas to efforts to drive down oil prices, weaken Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, and limit Iran’s regional power amid rising fears of a wider war. We also explore how a revived Venezuelan oil sector could disrupt OPEC+, reshape Middle East politics, and alter the balance of power across today’s conflict zones.

Topics:

• Venezuela’s oil and US pressure
• Trump, oil prices, and OPEC+
• Middle East fallout from cheap oil
• Ukraine war and Iran conflict stakes

Guest: Harry Istepanian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 495 | Recorded: December 11, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/495

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/g0bH2EFA3GU

#Venezuela #OilPolitics #Geopolitics #USForeignPolicy #EnergyWars

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Topics

• 1988 Earthquake Remembered
• Pashinyan’s War on the Armenian Church
• EU-Armenia Relations
• Nagorno-Karabakh Negotiation Documents
• ARAR Foundation Poll

Guest

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 494 | Recorded: December 8, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/494

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Topics

• OSCE MG Dissolved
• Libaridian on Submitting to Turkey and Azerbaijan
• New Constitution to be Drafted by March 2026
• Archbishops, Letters, Attacks on the Church
• Border Commissions Meet in Baku
• Comments from Jacob Pursley

Guest

• Arthur Khachikyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 493 | Recorded: December 2, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/493

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Topics:

• US and Venezuela
• Potential for New War on Iran
• Is Azerbaijan a “Middle Power”?
• Europe’s Confused Geopolitical Identity
• Armenia’s Confused Geopolitics

Guest: Eldar Mamedov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 492 | Recorded: November 29, 2025

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SjcJMIis7sg

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/492

#IranCrisis #AzerbaijanPolitics #EuropeanGeopolitics #ArmeniaSecurity #SouthCaucasus #GlobalPowerPolitics

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•  Venezuela
•  Ukraine War
•  Gaza
•  TRIPP in Armenia

Guest: Matthew Hoh

Hosts: 

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 491 | Recorded: November 29, 2025

Show Notes: https://podcasts.groong.org/491

Video: https://youtu.be/ZZ_n9Mwum30

#Venezuela #AmericaFirst #USForeignPolicy #TRIPP #UkraineWar

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•  Clergy Arrests in Armenia
•  Church Under Pressure
•  Prayer Breakfast Controversy
•  Western Silence on Repression
•  CSI’s Findings in Yerevan

Guest: Joel Veldkamp

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 490 | Recorded: November 25, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/490

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/BGnt2feIXMs

#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #ChristianSolidarityInternational #HumanRightsInArmenia

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• Azerbaijan’s war crimes and impunity
• Sham trials of Artsakh leaders
• Silence of the OSCE and the West
• Armenia’s growing political repression
• Attacks on the Armenian Church

Guest: Garen Jinbachian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 489 | Recorded: November 23, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/489

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/uwn6cFzDpAo

#ArtsakhJustice #HumanRights #OSCE #Armenia #Azerbaijan #PoliticalPrisoners

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