Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

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 creating this weekly digest of news and analysis that we find relevant to share with our friends and the wider ANN/Groong audience. Our goal is to provide a brief overview of the main headlines of the past week, and then cover a smaller set of the more important developments, curated by ANN/Groong editors and contributors who spend an inordinate amount of time daily to process Armenian news. We hope that over time this podcast will help our listeners in becoming more astute consumers of Armenian news. We will strive to provide a rich set of notes with each installation, with links to the most relevant articles and information as a starting point for your further investigation.

Episodes

Arman Grigoryan - US-Iran Negotiations, Post-Election Armenian Politics | Ep 560, Jun 23, 2026

Conversations on Groong - June 23, 2026In 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-Ira...

June 23, 2026 • Episode 560 • 1:24:34

Hrant Mikaelian - Election Aftermath and Polls in Armenia | Ep 559, Jun 20, 2026

Conversations on Groong - June 20, 2026In 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 fr...

June 20, 2026 • Episode 559 • 59:59

Armenian Parliamentary Election, US-Iran Agreement | Ep 558, Jun 14, 2026

Week in Review - June 14, 2026In 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-Ir...

June 16, 2026 • Episode 558 • 44:40

Arthur Martirosyan - After the Anger, What Next? | Ep 557, Jun 10, 2026

Conversations on Groong - June 10, 2026In 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...

June 11, 2026 • Episode 557 • 1:11:30

2026 Elections: A Mandate Under Dispute | Ep 556, June 7, 2026

Week in Review - June 7, 2026In 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 irregulariti...

June 10, 2026 • Episode 556 • 49:26

Spotlight on Silence: Selective Justice in Armenia’s Election Campaign | Ep 555, Jun 6, 2026

Spotlight on Silence - June 6, 2026In 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 Parliamenta...

June 06, 2026 • Episode 555 • 54:18

Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - IODA's Second Mission and Armenia's Dire Election Climate | Ep 554, Jun 4, 2026

Conversations on Groong - June 4, 2026In 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 ...

June 04, 2026 • Episode 554 • 1:07:51

May 28, Rubio’s Armenia Deals, and the Cost of Strategic Drift | Ep 553, May 31, 2026

Week In Review - May 31, 2026In 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...

June 02, 2026 • Episode 553 • 55:38

Sergey Markedonov - Russia-Armenia Relations Before the Vote | Ep 552, June 1, 2026

Conversations on Groong - June 1, 2026In 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...

June 01, 2026 • Episode 552 • 1:18:24

Arthur Khachatryan - Armenia Alliance in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 551, May 31, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 31, 2026In 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 d...

May 31, 2026 • Episode 551 • 1:04:04

Rubio Visit, New MPG and IRI Polls, Hidden Votes and Why Are You Alive? | Ep 550, May 24, 2026

Week in Review - May 24, 2025This 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...

May 26, 2026 • Episode 550 • 59:50

Edgar Elbakyan - The Battle for Armenia’s Political Future | Ep 549, May 24, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 24, 2026This 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 t...

May 24, 2026 • Episode 549 • 57:41

Parties and Alliances in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 548, May 22, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 23, 2026This 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 explain...

May 23, 2026 • Episode 548 • 42:56

Pashinyan's Hate Speech, Threats, and the June 7 Election Climate | Ep 547, May 17, 2026

Week in Review - May 17, 2026This 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 risk...

May 19, 2026 • Episode 547 • 41:42

Arman Grigoryan - Revolutionary Recklessness: Armenia After the War | Ep 546, May 15, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 15, 2026Dr. 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, wit...

May 15, 2026 • Episode 546 • 57:08

Week in Review - EPC in Armenia, Russia, Parliamentary Election, Swiss Peace Initiative | Ep 545, May 10, 2026

Week in Review - May 13, 2026In 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 move...

May 13, 2026 • Episode 545 • 49:44

Anna Grigoryan - Armenia Alliance in the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election | Ep 544, May 11, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 11, 2026Anna 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 ...

May 11, 2026 • Episode 544 • 1:01:02

EU Interference and Armenia’s 2026 Elections | Ep 543, May 10, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 10, 2026Hovhannes Ishkhanyan and Nare Navasardyan discuss the growing role of the EU, fact-checking networks, and counter-disinformation programs in Armenia's 2026 election environment. ...

May 10, 2026 • Episode 543 • 1:17:11

Tatevik Soghoyan - Who Failed the Children of Vedi | Ep 542, May 10, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 10, 2026This 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 ...

May 10, 2026 • Episode 542 • 42:19

Anatol Lieven - Russia, Iran, Europe, and the Remaking of World Order | Ep 541, May 8, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 8, 2026In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Dr. Anatol Lieven joins us to examine Russia’s place in a rapidly shifting global order. The discussion looks at the war in Ukraine, the state of Rus...

May 08, 2026 • Episode 541 • 1:06:00

Mikael Darbinian - Armenia’s Borders, TRIPP, and the Price of Weakness | Ep 540, May 6, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 6, 2026This 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, diplom...

May 06, 2026 • Episode 540 • 1:02:33

Trump’s Iran Ceasefire, Operation Kochari, and Armenia’s Election Fog | Ep 539, May 3, 2026

Groong Week in Review - May 3, 2026This 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 continu...

May 05, 2026 • Episode 539 • 1:14:34

Hrair Balian - From Karabakh to TRIPP: Armenia’s Security Dilemma | Ep 538, May 3, 2026

Conversations on Groong - May 3, 2026In 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 ...

May 03, 2026 • Episode 538 • 1:16:50

Arega Hovsepyan - June 2026 Parliamentary Election in Armenia | Ep 537, Apr 30, 2026

Conversations on Groong - Apr 30, 2026In 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 geop...

April 29, 2026 • Episode 537 • 1:02:44

Arthur Martirosyan - Iran War, TRIPP, April 24, and Election Stakes | Ep 536, Apr 26, 2026

Groong Week in Review - April 26, 2026This 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 Zange...

April 28, 2026 • Episode 536 • 1:09:35