Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

Week in Review - July 26, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - July 27, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - July 25, 2026

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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Week in Review - July 19, 2026

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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Week in Review - July 12, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - July 11, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - July 10, 2026

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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Week in Review - July 5, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - July 3, 2026

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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Week in Review - June 28, 2026

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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