<![CDATA[Armenian News Network / Groong]]>https://substack.groong.orghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!npmQ!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88493460-5f30-4b2d-b527-8e5171aa71a2_400x400.pngArmenian News Network / Groonghttps://substack.groong.orgSubstackFri, 24 Jul 2026 03:08:20 GMT<![CDATA[Iran War, TRIPP Money, and Armenia’s Political Purgatory | Ep 561, Jul 19, 2026 ]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/iran-war-tripp-money-and-armeniashttps://substack.groong.org/p/iran-war-tripp-money-and-armeniasFri, 24 Jul 2026 03:00:18 GMTIn 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:

Episode 568 | Recorded: July 20, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/568

#IranWar #TRIPP #Teghut #Armenia #PoliticalPrisoners #ArmenianPOWs #KonstantinSokolov

]]><![CDATA[NATO in Ankara, War in Iran, and the Scissors Over Armenia | Ep 567, Jul 12, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/nato-in-ankara-war-in-iran-and-thehttps://substack.groong.org/p/nato-in-ankara-war-in-iran-and-theWed, 15 Jul 2026 20:01:18 GMTIn 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:

Episode 567 | Recorded: July 13, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/567

#ArmenianNews #NATOSummit #IranWar #TRIPP #ArmeniaAzerbaijan #ArmenianParliament #GareginII #OSCE

]]><![CDATA[Dmitry Suslov - Ukraine’s Endgame, Armenia’s Crossroads | Ep 566, Jul 11, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/dmitry-suslov-ukraines-endgame-armeniashttps://substack.groong.org/p/dmitry-suslov-ukraines-endgame-armeniasSun, 12 Jul 2026 04:31:23 GMTIn 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:

Episode 566 | Recorded: July 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/566

#Russia #UkraineWar #NATO #Europe #Armenia #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Syunik #EAEU

]]><![CDATA[Sergey Markedonov - Ukraine, TRIPP, and Armenia’s Western Pivot | Ep 565, Jul 10, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/sergey-markedonov-ukraine-tripp-andhttps://substack.groong.org/p/sergey-markedonov-ukraine-tripp-andFri, 10 Jul 2026 18:00:59 GMTIn 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:

Episode 565 | Recorded: July 8, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/565

#ArmenianNews #SouthCaucasus #UkraineWar #Russia #Armenia #EAEU #TRIPP #Geopolitics

]]><![CDATA[The Constitutional Court has ruled, now what? | Ep 564, Jul 5, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/the-constitutional-court-has-ruledhttps://substack.groong.org/p/the-constitutional-court-has-ruledFri, 10 Jul 2026 06:52:09 GMTIn 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:

Episode 564 | Recorded: July 6, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/564

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #Pashinyan #ArmenianPolitics #SouthCaucasus #ConstitutionalCourt #SurveillanceState

]]><![CDATA[Dziunik Aghajanian - Iran War, Election Aftermath, Russian Warnings, Israeli Recognition | Ep 563, Jul 3, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/dziunik-aghajanian-iran-war-electionhttps://substack.groong.org/p/dziunik-aghajanian-iran-war-electionSat, 04 Jul 2026 01:01:06 GMTIn 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:

Episode 563 | Recorded: July 1, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/563

#ArmenianNews #IranWar #DziunikAghajanian #ArmenianElections #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus #ArmenianGenocide

]]><![CDATA[When Israel Recognizes and Yerevan Dodges | Ep 562, Apr 25, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/when-israel-recognizes-and-yerevanhttps://substack.groong.org/p/when-israel-recognizes-and-yerevanWed, 01 Jul 2026 17:01:22 GMTIn 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:

Episode 562 | Recorded: June 29, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/562

#ArmenianGenocide #Armenia #Israel #Pashinyan #RussiaArmenia #SouthCaucasus

]]><![CDATA[Iran Talks, Election Challenges, and Political Retaliation | Ep 561, Jun 21, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/iran-talks-election-challenges-andhttps://substack.groong.org/p/iran-talks-election-challenges-andWed, 24 Jun 2026 19:30:25 GMTIn 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 criticism of Pashinyan’s government amid an economic embargo, and Armenia-Azerbaijan telecommunications developments amid broader geopolitical uncertainty in the South Caucasus.

Topics:

  • US-Iran Negotiations

  • Russian Embargo

  • Election Aftermath

  • Persecutions Continue

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan Telco Agreement

Hosts:

Episode 561 | Recorded: June 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/561

#ArmenianNews #Armenia #Iran #USIranTalks #ArmenianElections #SouthCaucasus #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP

]]><![CDATA[Arman Grigoryan - US-Iran Negotiations, Post-Election Armenian Politics | Ep 560, Jun 23, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/arman-grigoryan-us-iran-negotiationshttps://substack.groong.org/p/arman-grigoryan-us-iran-negotiationsTue, 23 Jun 2026 21:30:42 GMTConversations 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 risks

  • TRIPP and shifting regional power

  • Armenia’s contested post-election landscape

  • Opposition failures and future strategy

  • Risks of another parliamentary election

Guest: Arman Grigoryan

Hosts:

Episode 560 | Recorded: June 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/560

#ArmeniaElections #USIranNegotiations #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Iran #ArmanGrigoryan

]]><![CDATA[Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/hrant-mikaelian-election-aftermathhttps://substack.groong.org/p/hrant-mikaelian-election-aftermathSat, 20 Jun 2026 21:31:12 GMTIn 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 aftermath and disputed legitimacy

  • Threats against opposition parties

  • Armenia-Russia tensions after vote

  • EU lifeline for Armenian exports

  • Polling failures and hidden votes

Guest: Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts:

Episode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/559

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #Polling

]]><![CDATA[Armenian Parliamentary Election, US-Iran Agreement | Ep 558, Jun 14, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/armenian-parliamentary-election-ushttps://substack.groong.org/p/armenian-parliamentary-election-usWed, 17 Jun 2026 03:30:28 GMTIn 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 Aftermath

  • Armenia-Georgia Relations

  • US-Iran Interim Agreement

Hosts:

Episode 558 | Recorded: June 15, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/558

#Armenia #ArmenianNews #ArmenianElections #CivilContract #Pashinyan #ArmenianConstitution #Referendum #ProsperousArmenia #SouthCaucasus #CEC

]]><![CDATA[Arthur Martirosyan - After the Anger, What Next? | Ep 557, Jun 10, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/arthur-martirosyan-after-the-angerhttps://substack.groong.org/p/arthur-martirosyan-after-the-angerFri, 12 Jun 2026 03:30:38 GMTIn 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 supermajority would mean for Armenia’s governance and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process.

Topics:

  • Contested results and thresholds

  • Pashinyan’s post-election crackdown

  • Western backing and interference

  • Russia’s delayed pressure campaign

  • Opposition choices after the vote

Guest: Arthur G. Martirosyan

Hosts:

Episode 557 | Recorded: June 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/557

Get the Groong Podcast App

#ArmenianElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #ArmenianOpposition

]]><![CDATA[The Groong Podcast App is now in beta]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/the-groong-podcast-app-is-now-inhttps://substack.groong.org/p/the-groong-podcast-app-is-now-inThu, 11 Jun 2026 08:52:58 GMT

Install

A small door out of recommender jail

For years, Groong has lived wherever you find us — YouTube, podcast apps, social media, inboxes, group chats, and the occasional “Did you see this episode?” from a friend.

That worked well enough. Until it didn’t.

Like many independent media projects, we kept landing in what we can only call recommender jail. We have followers, subscribers, and people who genuinely want to hear from us — and yet the platforms often decide not to show our work to the very people who asked to see it.

So we built a small door out.

The Groong Podcast App is now in beta.

It’s a dedicated home for Groong listeners — built to make it easier to follow our interviews, analysis, and conversations about Armenia, Artsakh, the Armenian diaspora, the South Caucasus, and the wider region. The full catalog, in one place. Watch or listen. And, with your permission, a notification the moment a new episode drops.

No algorithm. No mystery. No “we thought you’d rather watch a 9-second cooking video instead.”

Install

Why we built it

Groong has now passed 555 episodes — long-form conversations with analysts, authors, journalists, policymakers, and scholars who follow the region with care. But getting those episodes in front of our own audience has only gotten harder. YouTube doesn’t always recommend us. Social platforms don’t always show our posts. And if you miss an episode when it comes out, it can vanish into the feed before you know it.

This app is our answer. A clean, focused, installable home that keeps the full catalog in one place, lets you watch or listen, and — with your permission — notifies you when something new is published. We’re not trying to spam anyone. We’re trying to reach the people who already asked to hear from us.

The bell is the point

The most important feature, at least for now, is the bell. Install the app, tap the bell, allow notifications — and when a new Groong episode publishes, you’ll get a notification. Tap it, and it opens the episode. That’s the whole idea: a direct, simple path from new episode to listener.

What you can do in the beta

Browse the full catalog, newest first. Watch video-first with the YouTube player, or switch to audio with one tap — play, pause, scrubber, 15-second skips, and speeds up to 2×. Jump around long episodes with chapter navigation. Read built-in show notes and guest info. Share any episode with its own deep link. Light and dark themes follow your system settings.

It’s a Progressive Web App today, which means you install it straight from your browser — no app store waiting room. Native iOS and Android versions are coming next.

How to install

  • iPhone/iPad: Open app.groong.org in Safari → tap Share → “Add to Home Screen.”

  • Android: Open app.groong.org in Chrome → three-dot menu → “Install app.”

Either way, a Groong icon lands on your home screen and opens full-screen, just like any other app.

Privacy matters

No accounts. No logins. No profiles. No personal database behind the curtain. The app is a fast reader and player for Groong’s public catalog. Analytics are opt-in — decline and nothing is tracked. Your attention belongs to the journalism, not to trackers.

Try it and tell us what breaks

This is a beta, so there may be rough edges — and that’s where you come in. Install it, tap the bell, try watching, try audio, try chapters, try sharing an episode. Then reply and tell us what works and what doesn’t. “It works on my phone” is useful. “The bell does nothing on my browser” is also useful. “Please add search before I lose my mind” is very useful.

Groong has always been a community effort. The app should be, too.

› Install the beta: https://app.groong.org

› Read the full announcement: https://podcasts.groong.org/20260609-announcing-groong-podcast-app/

]]><![CDATA[2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/2026-elections-a-mandate-under-disputehttps://substack.groong.org/p/2026-elections-a-mandate-under-disputeWed, 10 Jun 2026 22:31:28 GMTIn 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, unresolved majority

  • Election-day irregularities in plain sight

  • ODIHR’s mixed preliminary verdict

  • Bribery replaced by state spending

  • Opposition’s next steps uncertain

Hosts:

Episode 556 | Recorded: Jun 9, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/556

Try the Groong Podcast App

#ArmenianElections #ArmenianNews #CivilContract #Pashinyan #Election2026 #SouthCaucasus

]]><![CDATA[Spotlight on Silence: Selective Justice in Armenia’s Election Campaign | Ep 555, Jun 6, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/spotlight-on-silence-selective-justicehttps://substack.groong.org/p/spotlight-on-silence-selective-justiceSat, 06 Jun 2026 21:00:26 GMTSpotlight 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:

  • Selective law enforcement before elections

  • Wiretaps, leaks, and campaign pressure

  • Hate speech laws against critics

  • Official threats without consequences

  • Military summons as political coercion

Guest: Rafael Ishkhanyan

Hosts:

Episode 555 | Recorded: June 4, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/555

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HumanRights #PoliticalPersecution #Artsakh #RafaelIshkhanyan #Groong

]]><![CDATA[Raffi Kalfayan - IODA's Second Mission, Armenia's Dire Election Climate | Ep 554, Jun 4, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/raffi-kalfayan-iodas-second-missionhttps://substack.groong.org/p/raffi-kalfayan-iodas-second-missionThu, 04 Jun 2026 19:31:08 GMTConversations on Groong - June 4, 2026

In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Philippe Raffi Kalfayan about Armenia’s deteriorating democratic conditions ahead of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election. We discuss IODA’s second election observation mission, widespread arrests of opposition figures, state intimidation of voters, selective prosecution, and the serious threats to electoral legitimacy and civil rights under the Civil Contract regime.

Topics:

  • Arrests of government critics

  • State pressure on voters

  • Public resources used for campaigns

  • Selective prosecution before elections

  • Election legitimacy under serious doubt

Guest: Philippe Raffi Kalfayan

Hosts:

Episode 554 | Recorded: June 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/554

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #Election2026 #IODA #OSCE #ODIHR #Geopolitics #Democracy

]]><![CDATA[May 28, Rubio’s Armenia Deals, and the Cost of Strategic Drift | Ep 553, May 31, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/may-28-rubios-armenia-deals-and-thehttps://substack.groong.org/p/may-28-rubios-armenia-deals-and-theTue, 02 Jun 2026 19:02:00 GMTIn this episode of Groong’s Week in Review, hosts Hovik and Asbed examine Armenia’s May 28 Independence Day parade as campaign theater, Marco Rubio’s push for critical minerals deals, and the strategic risks of TRIPP in Syunik. We discuss how Pashinyan’s military parade coincides with Armenian prisoners of war held hostage in Baku, the questionable financing of weapons through $8 billion in external debt, and the broader geopolitical pressures from Russia and Iran as Armenia heads into the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.

Topics:

  • May 28 and Statehood

  • Parade as Campaign Theater

  • Rubio’s Armenia Agreements

  • Minerals Without Guarantees

  • TRIPP Risks in Syunik

  • Russia and Iran Pushback

  • Election Climate and Repression

Hosts:

Episode 553 | Recorded: June 1, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/553

#Armenia #May28 #MarcoRubio #TRIPP #Syunik #CriticalMinerals #ElectionFraud #RussiaArmenia

]]><![CDATA[Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/sergey-markedonov-russia-armeniahttps://substack.groong.org/p/sergey-markedonov-russia-armeniaMon, 01 Jun 2026 19:02:09 GMTIn 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:

Episode 552 | Recorded: May 31, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/552

#RussiaArmenia #SergeyMarkedonov #ArmeniaElections #Pashinyan #RealArmenia #TRIPP #EAEU #SouthCaucasus

]]><![CDATA[Arthur Khachatryan - Armenia Alliance, 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 551, May 31, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/arthur-khachatryan-armenia-alliancehttps://substack.groong.org/p/arthur-khachatryan-armenia-allianceSun, 31 May 2026 19:31:55 GMTIn 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:

Episode 551 | Recorded: May 30, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/551

#ArmeniaElections #ArthurKhachatryan #HayastanDashinq #ArmenianOpposition #Pashinyan #TRIPP #SouthCaucasus #Groong

]]><![CDATA[Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026]]>https://substack.groong.org/p/rubio-visit-new-mpg-and-iri-pollshttps://substack.groong.org/p/rubio-visit-new-mpg-and-iri-pollsSat, 30 May 2026 02:02:42 GMTWeek 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:

Episode 550 | Recorded: May 25, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/550

#ArmeniaElections #Armenia #NikolPashinyan #TRIPP #ZangezurCorridor #WesternAzerbaijan #ArmenianOpposition

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