Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

Epizode

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  Tigranashen Unanswered, Russia’s Railways Challenged | Ep 574, Aug 2, 2026 04.08.2026 26min

  Week in Review - August 2, 2026 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 inTigranashen and Armenia's territorial red ...
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  Pietro Shakarian - Memory Under Siege: From Stalin to Pashinyan | Ep 573, Aug 3, 2026 03.08.2026 1h 16min

  Conversations on Groong - August 3, 2026 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-Artsak...
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  Christine Arakelian - Forever Wars, NATO 3.0, Armenia's High-Stakes Western Pivot | Ep 572, Jul 31, 2026 01.08.2026 1h 33min

  Conversations on Groong 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 &am...
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  From Caspian Drones to Armenia’s Cold Winter | Ep 571, Jul 26, 2026 29.07.2026 56min

  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...
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  Archil Sikharulidze - Armenia and Georgia Between Russia and Europe | Ep 570, Jul 26, 2026 27.07.2026 1h 26min

  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: Russ...
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  Anthony Barsamian - Armenia-Diaspora checkpoint | Ep 569, Jul 25, 2026 25.07.2026 1h 5min

  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 w...
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  Iran War, TRIPP Money, and Armenia’s Political Purgatory | Ep 561, Jul 19, 2026 22.07.2026 47min

  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 Ar...
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  NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026 15.07.2026 43min

  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 AnkaraIran War UpdateTa...
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  Dmitry Suslov - Ukraine’s Endgame, Armenia’s Crossroads | Ep 566, Jul 11, 2026 11.07.2026 1h 24min

  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 ...
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  Sergey Markedonov - Ukraine, TRIPP, and Armenia’s Western Pivot | Ep 565, Jul 10, 2026 10.07.2026 1h 18min

  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 Ju...
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  The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026 08.07.2026 53min

  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...
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  Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Election Aftermath, Russian Warnings, Israeli Recognition | Ep 563, Jul 3, 2026 03.07.2026 1h 23min

  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 warnin...
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  When Israel Recognizes and Yerevan Dodges | Ep 562, Apr 25, 2026 01.07.2026 38min

  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 tens...
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  Iran Talks, Election Challenges, and Political Retaliation | Ep 561, Jun 21, 2026 24.06.2026 41min

  Week in Review - June 21, 2026 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 c...
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  Arman Grigoryan - US-Iran Negotiations, Post-Election Armenian Politics | Ep 560, Jun 23, 2026 23.06.2026 1h 24min

  Conversations on Groong - June 23, 2026 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 risksTRIPP and shifting regional...
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  Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026 20.06.2026 59min

  Conversations on Groong - June 20, 2026 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 aftermat...
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  Armenian Parliamentary Election, US-Iran Agreement | Ep 558, Jun 14, 2026 16.06.2026 44min

  Week in Review - June 14, 2026 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 AftermathArmenia-Geo...
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  Arthur Martirosyan - After the Anger, What Next? | Ep 557, Jun 10, 2026 11.06.2026 1h 11min

  Conversations on Groong - June 10, 2026 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 s...
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  2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026 10.06.2026 49min

  Week in Review - June 7, 2026 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,...
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  Spotlight on Silence: Selective Justice in Armenia’s Election Campaign | Ep 555, Jun 6, 2026 06.06.2026 54min

  Spotlight on Silence - June 6, 2026 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: Sel...