Anastas Mikoyan, an Armenian Reformer in Khrushchev’s Kremlin

Dr. Pietro Shakarian explains the core arguments and new archival findings behind his book on Anastas Mikoyan. We cover Mikoyan’s effort to devolve power inside the USSR during Khrushchev’s constitutional reform drive, what a confederal model could have meant, and why it stalled. We discuss Mikoyan’s role in Armenia’s cultural thaw, including rehabilitations tied to his 1954 Yerevan speech. Shakarian details his research trail across Russian and Armenian archives, 1960s Artsakh petitions, Mikoyan’s stance toward the Armenian Church, and how his Armenian identity surfaced during Cold War crises.

Topics

• Research journey, archives Moscow and Yerevan
• Mikoyan’s vision of confederation for the USSR
• Artsakh’s status within Soviet constraints
• De-Stalinization and Armenia’s cultural thaw
• Mikoyan’s stance toward the Armenian Church

Guest

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Key Questions Discussed

• How far did Khrushchev’s reforms move the USSR toward a confederation, and why did it fail in practice
• What “radical devolution of powers” would mean for union and republic relations
• Which Armenian writers and officials were affected by post-Stalin rehabilitations
• What new evidence from Moscow and Yerevan archives changes prior scholarship
• How Mikoyan’s Armenian identity and stance toward the Church shaped decisions and relationships

Referenced Articles and Sources

• Anastas Mikoyan, an Armenian Reformer in Khrushchev’s Kremlin – Amazon
• Prior Groong episode with Pietro Shakarian (Episode 28)

Episode 480 | Recorded: October 18, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/480

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Groong Week in Review - October 19, 2025

Topics

• Ukraine War, Trump - Putin Upcoming Summit
• Israel-Gaza “Cease Fire”
• Armenian Government Repressions Accelerate

Guest

• Amb. Dziunik Aghajanian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 479 | Recorded: October 20, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/479

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OTS & CIS summits, Trump-Aliyev Tensions, Armenia Opposition for 2026

Groong Week in Review - October 12, 2025

Topics

• Aliyev pushes “Zangezur Corridor” at OTS
• Pashinyan pitches “Trump Route” at CIS
• Putin–Aliyev meeting eases tensions
• Armenia’s opposition gears up for 2026

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 478 | Recorded: October 14, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/478

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Ajapahyan Sentenced, Moldova, EPC, Peace Act, Dismantling the Armenian Military

Groong Week in Review - October 5, 2025

Topics

• Ajapahyan Sentenced: 2 Years in Jail
• Moldova Election Lessons
• EPC in Copenhagen, WSF in Warsaw
• Peace Act
• Dismantling Armenia's Military

Guest

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 477 | Recorded: October 6, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/477

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44-Day War: A Tale of Betrayal

Groong Week in Review - September 28, 2025

Topics

• Pashinyan’s rise and Western backing
• Breakdown of talks and secret meetings
• Failures and propaganda during the war
• Aftermath, revisionism, and political responsibility

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/476

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Georgian Municipal Elections 2025

Topics

• Municipal Elections & Tbilisi Politics
• Foreign Agent Law, One Year Later
• Georgian Perspectives on TRIPP

Guest

• Archil Sikharulidze

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 475 | Recorded: September 28, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/475

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Sep 19, Civil Contract, Opposition Inaction, Electric Network

Groong Week in Review - September 21, 2025

Topics

• September 19, 2023, two years on
    Artsakh: blockade, starvation, Yerevan’s position, ethnic cleansing, and lasting effects on Armenia.
• Civil Contract’s 7th Congress and the “Fourth Republic”**  
    New constitution path after 2026, Alma-Ata framing, EU track, and institutionalizing peace. Fourth Republic. Brand or blueprint?
• Opposition dynamics before 2026**  
    Impeachment versus election focus, fragmentation, and what might sway undecided voters.
• Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA)**  
    Government “surgical measures,” nationalization vs top-tier foreign manager, and investor risk signals.

Guest

• Arthur Martirosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 474 | Recorded: September 22, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/474

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Pashinyan Vote of No Confidence, Opposition Strategies

Conversations on Groong - Recorded on: September 17, 2025

Topics

• TRIPP / Trump Route / Zangezur Corridor
• Vote of No Confidence
• “Pashinyan or War”?

Guest

• Armen Ashotyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 473 | Recorded: September 17, 2025

https://podcasts.groong.org/473

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Groong Week in Review - September 25, 2025

Topics

• September 13, 2022 War
• Serdar Kiliç in Armenia
• US State Dept. in Yerevan
• Shorter Military Service
• The Kitchen Sink

Guest

• Arthur Khachatryan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 472 | Recorded: September 15, 2025

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War on Iran, Russia on TRIPP, New MPG Poll in Armenia, Economy

Topics

• War in Iran
• Russia’s Stance on TRIPP
• New MPG Poll in Armenia
• Armenian Economy in H1/2025

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025

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