Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast
News & Politics
About
Weekly review of Armenian News from https://groong.org. Keeping up with news related to Armenia and Armenians can be challenging; the sheer volume of news in the past few years has increased greatly, and the rise of the “Fake News” phenomenon contributing to the erosion of trust in the news media. The diversity of languages used by the worldwide Armenian community also poses a challenge for Armenian news; there is a significant portion of news that originates in Armenian, sometimes in Russian, and does not get adequately translated into English, or Western Armenian, for those in the Diaspora who are not proficient in Eastern Armenian. Finally, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the political turbulence in countries where significant communities of the Armenian Diaspora reside, be it Syria, Lebanon, the United States, etc., many of our friends and colleagues indicate that they’re simply overloaded with information and lack the time and energy to separate the good from the bad. So we’re crea
Episodes
- Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026
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 discuss…
- Arthur Khachatryan - Armenia Alliance in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 551, May 31, 2026
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 w…
- Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026
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, a…
- Edgar Elbakyan - The Battle for Armenia’s Political Future | Ep 549, May 24, 2026
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…
- Parties and Alliances in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 548, May 22, 2026
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 el…
- Arman Grigoryan - Revolutionary Recklessness: Armenia After the War | Ep 546, May 15, 2026
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 anothe…
- Week in Review - EPC in Armenia, Russia, Parliamentary Election, Swiss Peace Initiative | Ep 545, May 10, 2026
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…
- Anna Grigoryan - Armenia Alliance in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 544, May 11, 2026
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 Arme…
- EU Interference and Armenia’s 2026 Elections | Ep 543, May 10, 2026
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 exami…
- Tatevik Soghoyan - Who Failed the Children of Vedi | Ep 542, May 10, 2026
Conversations on Groong - May 10, 2026 This Conversations on Groong episode examines the Vedi abuse case, a disturbing story involving alleged sexual abuse of vulnerable minors and serious questions about Armenia's law-enforcement response…
- Mikael Darbinian - Armenia’s Borders, TRIPP, and the Price of Weakness | Ep 540, May 6, 2026
Conversations on Groong - May 6, 2026 This Conversations on Groong episode with Mikael Darbinian examines Armenia’s security crisis through the lens of the Strong Armenia doctrine. The discussion focuses on deterrence, diplomacy from a pos…
- Trump’s Iran Ceasefire, Operation Kochari, and Armenia’s Election Fog | Ep 539, May 3, 2026
Groong Week in Review - May 3, 2026 This Groong Week in Review examines a volatile week across Armenia and the region. Asbed and Hovik discuss Trump’s declared ceasefire with Iran, the failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad, the continuing nava…
- Hrair Balian - From Karabakh to TRIPP: Armenia’s Security Dilemma | Ep 538, May 3, 2026
Conversations on Groong - May 3, 2026 In this Conversations on Groong episode, Hrair Balian joins us to discuss his book Anatomy of Peacemaking: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict & Missed Opportunities, the failure of diplomacy around Artsakh, and…
- Arega Hovsepyan - June 2026 Parliamentary Election in Armenia | Ep 537, Apr 30, 2026
Conversations on Groong - Apr 30, 2026 In this Conversations on Groong episode, we speak with Arega Hovsepyan of the Strong Armenia party about Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections, opposition politics, and the shifting geopolitical…
- Arthur Martirosyan - Iran War, TRIPP, April 24, and Election Stakes | Ep 536, Apr 26, 2026
Groong Week in Review - April 26, 2026 This Week in Review on Groong examines how the Iran war fallout and the extension of the ceasefire are reshaping Armenia’s geopolitical position. We break down the push for the TRIPP or Zangezur Corri…
- Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - Monitoring the June 2026 Election in Armenia | Ep 535, Apr 26, 2026
Conversations on Groong - April 26, 2026 Dr. Philippe Raffi Kalfayan joined Groong to discuss the International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA), its work ahead of Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, and the risks it…
- Dmitry Suslov - War, Leverage, and Corridors, Russia’s View from All Fronts | Ep 534, Apr 25, 2026
Conversations on Groong - April 25, 2026 In this episode of the Groong podcast, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about the shifting geopolitical landscape across the Iran war, the Ukraine conflict, and the South Caucasus. We examine the fra…
- Warwick Powell - Thermoeconomics, Iran, and the New Geopolitical Economy | Ep 533, Apr 23, 2026
Conversations on Groong - April 23, 2026 In this Conversations on Groong episode, Warwick Powell joins us to examine the Iran war through the lens of thermoeconomics, energy flows, de-dollarization, and shifting global power. We discuss ho…
- Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Antalya, Armenian Parliamentary Elections | Ep 532, Apr 19, 2026
Groong Week in Review - April 19, 2026 In this Week in Review episode, Ambassador Dziunik Aghajanian discusses the stalled Iran negotiations after the Islamabad talks, the renewed pressure around Hormuz and the naval blockade, Turkey’s pos…
- Hovik & Asbed - Iran War, April 2016 War, Armenia & Russia, Politics & Election | Ep 530, Apr 5, 2026
Groong Week in Review - April 5, 2026 Topics : Iran War Update 2016 April War Aftermath of Pashinyan in Moscow Domestic Politics & Election Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 530 | Recorded: April 7, 2026 SHOW NOTES: https:…
- Hrant Mikaelian - US-Iran Talks, Orban Loses, Armenia, Polls | Ep 531, Apr 12, 2026
Groong Week in Review - April 12, 2026 In this episode, we examine a fast-moving regional and political landscape, from the collapse of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad and the threat of a new naval blockade, to Viktor Orban’s election loss…
- Pietro Shakarian - Iran War, Armenia and Russia, June Parliamentary Elections | Ep 529, Apr 4, 2026
Conversations on Groong - April 4, 2026 In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Pietro Shakarian joins Hovik and Asbed to examine the Iran war, its impact on Russia, Ukraine, and the wider Eurasian balance, and what it means for Armeni…
- Anna Karapetyan - Iran War, Pashinyan Fake Narratives, Fear-mongering, Silencing Talk of Artsakh | Ep 528, Mar 29, 2026
Groong Week in Review - March 29, 2026 Our guest Anna Karapetyan focused on the widening Iran war and its possible fallout for Armenia, then turned to the narratives shaping Armenia’s election season. The discussion examined Pashinyan’s cl…
- Hovik & Asbed - Karekin II travel-banned from Ilia II Funeral, Iran War, Armenia Parliamentary Election | Ep 527, Mar 22, 2026
Groong Week in Review - March 22, 2026 This Week in Review featured Asbed and Hovik without a guest. We discussed the death of Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Armenian government’s blocking of Catholicos of all Armenians Kare…
- YoungMin - Travel Blogger’s Visit to Occupied and Ethnically Cleansed Artsakh | Ep 526, Mar 22, 2026
Conversations on Groong - March 22, 2026 South Korean travel blogger YoungMin visited Artsakh after Azerbaijan's 2023 ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, becoming one of the few independent foreign visitors to document conditions on the…
- Eldar Mamedov - Iran War: The Northern Front | Ep 525, Mar 22, 2026
Conversations on Groong - March 22, 2026 Topics : Iran at War The Northern Front: Turkey & Azerbaijan Changing Nakhijevan's Constitution Guest : Eldar Mamedov Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 525 | Recorded: March 20, 202…
- Varuzhan Geghamyan - Iran War, Zangezur Corridor, Nakhijevan Constitution | Ep 524, Mar 20, 2026
Conversations on Groong - March 20, 2026 Topics : Iran at War The Northern Front: Turkey & Azerbaijan Changing Nakhijevan’s Constitution Guest : Varuzhan Geghamyan Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 524 | Recorded: March 19…
- Scott Horton - Why Are We at War with Iran? | Ep 523, Mar 20, 2026
Conversations on Groong - March 20, 2026 Topics - Why this war began - U.S. fallout and political costs - Paths to wider regional escalation Guest: Scott Horton Hosts: - Hovik Manucharyan - Asbed Bedrossian Episode 523 | Recorded: March 20…
- Arthur Martirosyan - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, June Parliamentary | Ep 522, Mar 15, 2026
Groong Week in Review - March 15, 2026 Arthur Martirosyan examines the ongoing U.S.–Israel war on Iran and its uncertain trajectory, focusing on escalation risks, strategic objectives, and potential diplomatic offramps. The discussion then…
- Hrant Mikaelian - Iran War Update, IRI Poll Review, Armenian Political Landscape | Ep 521, Mar 8, 2026
We discuss with Hrant Mikaelian the expanding war on Iran and what it could mean for the region. We took a close look at the latest IRI poll and its disputed methodology and findings, and the emerging shape of Armenia’s parliamentary race.…
- Hrant Mikaelian - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, Sumgait Pogroms, | Ep 520, Mar 1, 2026
Groong Week in Review - March 1, 2026 Topics US and Israel launch war against Iran Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands Armenia leadership silent Sumgait remembered Guest Hrant Mikaelian H…
- Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War Fears, June Vote Rules, State-Church Clash | Ep 519, Feb 22, 2026
Groong Week in Review - February 22, 2026 Topics : Iran War Fears June Parliamentary Elections Attacks on the Armenian Church Guest : Dziunik Aghajanian Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 519 | Recorded: February 25, 2026 S…
- Zaroui Pogossian - Vardanank, The Battle of Avarayr in 451 AD | Ep 518, Feb 24, 2026
Groong Deep History - February 24, 2026 In the inaugural Groong Deep History episode, historian Prof. Zaroui Pogossian joins the show to unpack the Vardanank wars and the Battle of Avarayr (451 AD). The conversation sets the longer politic…
- JD Vance in Armenia and Azerbaijan | Ep 517, Feb 15, 2026
Conversations on Groong - Feb 15, 2026 Topics Vance visit, protocol and optics Tsitsernakaberd tweet, “autocorrect diplomacy” TRIPP corridor stake and sovereignty risks Nuclear SMR deal, costs and dependency Firebird AI project, power and…
- Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - Europe and America, JD Vance in Armenia, Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church | Ep 516, Feb 8, 2026
Groong Week in Review - February 8, 2026 Topics A European View of America JD Vance in Armenia Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church Europe and Armenia Guest Philippe Raffi Kalfayan Hosts Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 516 | Record…
- James Carden & Pietro Shakarian - Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0 | Ep 515, Feb 7, 2026
Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0 Conversations on Groong Topics Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine” Rules-Based Disorder? Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada” US Cohesion and Midterms JD Vance in the South Caucasus Guests James Carde…
- Andrei Tsygankov - Canceling Russia and The Towers of the Kremlin | Ep 514, Feb 5, 2026
Conversations on Groong - February 5, 2026 Topics : Defining the “Canceling Russia” phenomenon The “cancel Russia” lobby Containment shifts to coercive transformation Russian Orthodox Church as battleground Kremlin “towers” and civilizatio…
- Christian Solidarity International Visits Jailed Armenian Clergy | Ep 513, Feb 4, 2026
Conversations on Groong - February 4, 2026 Topics: CSI Visits Jailed Cleric IRF Summit PACE MP Speaks Up Guest : Joel Veldkamp Hosts: Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 513 | Recorded: February 3, 2026 SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.…
- Iran, Varchaband, War on Church, Mehmet Oz, Strong Armenia, Noragyugh | Ep 512, Feb 1, 2026
Groong Week in Review - February 1, 2026 Topics: - Iran Conflict - Varchaband - War on Armenian Church - Mehmet Oz vs Armenian Americans - Narek Karapetyan and Strong Armenia - A Big Beautiful Noragyugh Hosts: - Hovik Manucharyan - Asbed B…
- David Davidian - Armenia’s Foreign Intel Service Annual Report | Ep 511, Jan 31, 2026
Conversations on Groong - Jan 31, 2026 Topics: - Foreign intelligence service - FIS report, strategic gaps - Azerbaijan risk and deterrence - Hybrid threats and elections - TRIPP, AI, and data risks Guest: David Davidian Hosts: - Hovik Man…
- Arthur Khachatryan - Army Day, JD Vance to Armenia, TRIPP, Church, Strong Armenia Party | Ep 510, Jan 25, 2026
Groong Week in Review - January 25, 2026 Topics: Memorial Day vs. Army Day JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan Armenian Church Developments Strong Armenia - New Political Party Guest : Arthur Khachatryan Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedr…
- Erhan Arik - Horovel and the Armenian Genocide | Ep 509, Jan 22, 2026
Horovel and the Armenian Genocide | Ep 509, Jan 22, 2026 The Critical Corner - Recorded on January 18, 2026 Topics Horovel, a cross-border memory project Ojakh, a second trip down memory lane Gayan, a wider regional lens Our Seeds, continu…
- Sergei Melkonian - Syria, Iran Unrest, TRIPP, Armenian Parliamentary Elections | Ep 508, Jan 18, 2026
Groong Week in Review - January 18, 2026 Topics : Syria, Kurds, Turkish advance Iran unrest, war postponed TRIPP and sovereignty dispute 2026 elections, foreign influence Guest : Sergei Melkonian Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian…
- Anna Grigoryan - Armenia’s Political Crisis | Ep 507, Jan 17, 2026
Conversations on Groong - January 17, 2026 Topics: Return of Four Hostages Pashinyan vs. Church TRIPP Armenia Parliamentary Election Guest Anna Grigoryan Hosts Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 507 | Recorded: January 16, 2026 SHO…
- Pietro Shakarian - Iran, Russia, and the Geopolitics of Post-Soviet Eurasia | Ep 506, Jan 16, 2026
Conversations on Groong - January 16, 2026 Topics Unrest in Iran Russia-Iran Partnership Solovyov’s Statements Trump’s “TRIPP Wire” in the Caucasus Release of Armenian hostages Guest Pietro Shakarian Hosts Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossia…
- Arthur Martirosyan - Ukraine, Iran, Baku Pogroms, Armenian Church Crisis | Ep 505, Jan 11, 2026
Groong Week in Review - January 11, 2026 Topics Ukraine war’s global cost to Russia Iran unrest and war risk Remembering the Baku pogroms Russia-Armenia tensions and media threats Pashinyan’s clash with Armenian Church Guest Arthur Martiro…
- Kevork Hagopjian - Armenia’s Church-State Showdown | Ep 504, Jan 13, 2026
Conversations on Groong - January 13, 2026 Topics : The Legal Architecture: Autonomy, Exclusive Mission, and State Neutrality Engineering Parallel, Schismatic Structures Criminal Law as Leverage Bern in Action and Reaction The Deeper Stake…
- Fr. Serop Azarian - Armenian Church Under Attack | Ep 503, Jan 11, 2026
Conversations on Groong - Jan 11, 2026 Topics : Pashinyan Attacks: Geopolitics or Vendetta? Renegade Bishops: Demands and Narratives Stolen Church Property From Christmas to Easter Guest : Fr. Serop Azarian Hosts : Hovik Manucharyan Asbed…
- Fyodor Lukyanov - Russia in Evolving Global Geopolitics | Ep 502, Jan 9, 2026
Conversations on Groong - January 9, 2026 Topics Venezuela Ukraine War Russia-Iran Relations TRIPP and Russian-Armenian Relations Guest Fyodor Lukyanov (Фёдор Алекса́ндрович Лукья́нов) Hosts Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian Episode 502 |…