Pietro Shakarian - Memory Under Siege: From Stalin to Pashinyan | Ep 573, Aug 3, 2026

Conversations on Groong - August 3, 2026In 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-Artsakh Armenia under the Civil Contract regime.Topics:Erasing memory across YerevanGreat Purge in Soviet ArmeniaKhanjyan's assassination and BeriaRepression of Armenia's national institutionsRemembering Stalinist repressionHistorical parallels with modern ArmeniaAttacks on memory and ChurchOpposition strategy after the electionGuest: Pietro ShakarianHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 573 | Recorded: July 31, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/573VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Y7Zwv-ZH6uc#Armenia #GreatPurge #AghasiKhanjyan #PietroShakarian #Artsakh #ArmenianChurch #PoliticalRepression #MemoryUnderSiege #Authoritarianism #SovietArmeniaSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong