Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

Conversations on Groong - June 1, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - May 31, 2026

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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Week in Review - May 24, 2025

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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Conversations on Groong - May 24, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - May 23, 2026

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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Week in Review - May 17, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - May 15, 2026

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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Week in Review - May 13, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - May 11, 2026

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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Conversations on Groong - May 10, 2026

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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