Conversations on Groong - May 10, 2026
Hovhannes Ishkhanyan and Nare Navasardyan discuss the growing role of the santa fe vs américa de cali 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
orlando city vs montréal - Lawsuits, pressure, and intimidation
- Censorship and social media control
Guests: Nare Navasardyan, Hovhannes Ishkhanyan
Timestamps:
0:00:50 Intro to show with Nare Navasardyan & Hovhannes Ishkhanyan
0:03:22 The experience of protesters of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan
0:10:29 Why is Europe only talking with the government and not engaging the opposition as well?
0:13:57 How has the Armenian public received the intense EPC propaganda via the Public channels?
0:16:44 Are the effects of the propaganda primarily in Yerevan, or also the regions?
0:20:07 What are France's interests in supporting Pashinyan?
0:22:14 What's the purpose of EU's 300M Euro injection to the government for "democracy & resilience"?
0:27:57 Why is the EU treating Armenia's domestic politics like a crisis and a security threat?
0:31:27 Euro-hosted PR for Pashinyan, fear of free expression of issues
0:34:20 What is the role of the Euro Hybrid Rapid Response Team?
0:36:38 Is the Moldova model the EU's peter dinklage new standard of election interference and how will it play out in Armenia?
0:44:13 Is the Azeri government funding narratives like "western Azerbaijan"?
0:48:05 Support for strategic sellout of Armenian intereats, and exhausting opposing voices
0:49:57 What is the role and effect of the "fact checking" industry?
0:54:01 Are there truly independent fact-checkers in Armenia?
1:03:02 How do these fact-checkers plug into social media, which is very important for Armenians?
1:06:10 What is the nature of Hovhannes's complaint to the IFCN about fip.am?
1:09:30 What is the nature against Hovhannes Ishkhanyan?
1:15:38 About Nare Navasardyan
1:16:11 About Hovhannes Ishkhanyan
1:16:35 SUPPORT GROONG - podcasts.groong.org/donate
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Episode 543 | Recorded: May 7, 2026
SHOW NOTES:
#Armenia #ArmenianElections #EU #Disinformation #FactChecking #Censorship #CivilSociety #FreeSpeech
