Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

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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Conversations on Groong - September 5, 2025

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Lenna Hovanessian of the ANC-Western Region about the aftermath of the August 8 White House meeting between Pashinyan, Aliyev, and Trump. The discussion examines what was left out of the agreements, including Artsakh’s right of return, the release of hostages, and cultural heritage protections, while highlighting the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and the waiver of Section 907 for U.S. arms sales to Azerbaijan. We also explore strained diaspora–Armenia relations, Pashinyan’s retreat from Genocide recognition, and Azerbaijan’s lobbying playbook, including the bribery charges against Congressman Henry Cuellar, where the ANCA is pressing for Armenian Americans to be recognized as victims.

Topics:

•  Reflections on August 8 White House Meeting
•  Tough Times for DIaspora-Armenia Relations
•  Challenges to Armenian American Advocacy

Guest: Lenna Hovanessian

Hosts:

•   Hovik Manucharyan
•   Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 470 | Recorded: September 5, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/470

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ruwhwAhRUN0

#ArmenianNews #Artsakh #ANCA #CaviarDiplomacy #Cuellar

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Multipolar Shifts at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit

Topics

• SCO Summit in Tianjin, China
• China-India Thaw
• Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline
• What’s in it for Armenia?

Guest

• Gilbert Doctorow

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

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Conversations on Groong - September 4, 2025

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with international human rights lawyer Robert Amsterdam about the arrest and pre-trial detention of Armenian businessman and Church benefactor Samvel Karapetyan. We explore how Armenia’s courts are being used in a campaign of lawfare targeting political opponents and the Armenian Apostolic Church, following growing tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and religious leaders. Amsterdam discusses the legal inconsistencies, the weaponization of pre-trial detention, and how these actions violate international norms. We also examine the broader consequences for Armenia’s legal system, religious freedom, and international reputation.

Topic: 

• Arrest of Samvel Karapetyan
• Pre-trial detention practices
• Lawfare and double standards
• Armenia’s global consequences

Guest: Robert Amsterdam

Hosts: 

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 468 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/468

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/0aa4tvYVL7M

#Lawfare #Armenia #ReligiousFreedom #PoliticalPrisoners #SamvelKarapetyan

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Groong Week in Review - August 31, 2025

In this Week in Review, we look at Armenia’s role at the SCO summit, where Pashinyan struck a new “strategic partnership” with China while also meeting Putin, raising questions about Yerevan’s shifting alignments. We examine the August 8 Washington documents on TRIPP, where words like “corridor” and “99-year lease” swirl despite Armenia’s denials, and ask what Azerbaijan’s demand for constitutional change really means. We cover rising tensions between Moscow and Baku after Aliyev called Russia an occupier and Zatulin warned against seeing Azerbaijan as a partner. And we discuss the UK’s push to raise relations with Armenia to a strategic level, even as London courts Baku and maintains loopholes in its arms embargo.

Topics:
  - SCO Summit in China
  - The UK in Armenia
  - TRIPP / Zangezur Corridor
  - Russian Azerbaijani Relations

Guest:  Benyamin Poghosyan

Hosts:
  - Hovik Manucharyan
  - Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 467 | Recorded: September 1, 2025

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/467

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kTh52542vtU

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TRIPP down Zangezur Corridor, Armenian Economy

Conversations on Groong - Recorded on: August 28, 2025

Topics:

• Pashinyan, Aliyev, in the White House
• What “Peace”?
• Armenian Economy

Guest

• Prof. Jeffrey Sachs

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 466 | Recorded: August 28, 2025

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Reflections on Life as a Political Prisoner, Attacks on the Church and Sovereignty

Conversations on Groong - August 28, 2025

Topics

• Imprisonment and Political Persecution
• International and Diaspora Response
• Pashinyan Regime Attack on the Church
• The Managed Capitulation Process

Guest

• Armen Ashotyan, VP of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 465 | Recorded: August 27, 2025

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State Sovereignty Day, TRIPP Trap, Reactions, Kitchen Sink

Groong Week in Review - August 24, 2025

Topics

• August 23: Armenia’s declaration of State Sovereignty
• The TRIPP Trap
• Iran - Pezeshkian’s Visit
• Russia - Overchuk’s visit
• The Kitchen Sink

Guest

• Tevan Poghosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025

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Alaska Summit, Trump Corridor, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Emerging Opposition “Our Way”/”Մեր Ձեվով”

Groong Week in Review - August 17, 2025

Topics

• Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
• Trump Corridor Politics
• Russian-Azerbaijani Relations
• Russian-Iranian Recalibration
• New Opposition Emerging - Our Way

Guest

• Sergei Melkonian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 463 | Recorded: August 18, 2025

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