INCIDENT IN "POPLAVOK" CAFE

[MosJan]

ROBERT KOCHARIAN HELD A CONFERENCE IN CONNECTION WITH INCIDENT IN "POPLAVOK" CAFE

26.09.2001

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The corpse of 43-year-old citizen of Georgia Poghos Poghosian was found in the lavatory of Yerevan popular jazz cafe "Poplavok" on the night of September 25. Representatives of Armenian cultural and political elite had spent time in the cafe the previous night. President Robert Kocharian, Minister of Justice David Harutyunian, singer Charles Aznavour, musician Jivan Gasparian, composer Armen Smbatian were there. As reported by some Yerevan newspapers, referring to witness descriptions, Poghosian was beaten by one of the President's bodyguards because he addressed a remark to Robert Kocharian. Poghosian tried to approach Charles Aznavour sitting at the same table with the President. Conflict arose after he was not let take an autograph from the singer. Today Robert Kocharian held a conference in connection with the tragic incident, which took place in the cafe. The Public Prosecutor and Minister of Internal Affairs gave accounts on the process of investigation. President ordered to speed up the preliminary investigation and ensure its absolute objectivity and transparency. Robert Kocharian also ordered to suspend those officers of the presidential guard, who were in "Poplavok" cafe that evening.

 

 

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[MosJan]

POLITICAL FORCES OF ARMENIA CONDEMNED MURDER OF CITIZEN OF GEORGIA POGHOS POGHOSIAN

27.09.2001

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The political forces of Armenia condemned the murder of citizen of Georgia Poghos Poghosian, which took place in "Poplavok" cafe on the night of September 24-25. In particular, Chairman of "Dashnaktsutyun" party Vahan Hovhannisian stated during the briefing at the National Assembly that the party possessed information witnessing that death of Poghos Poghosian was not casual. On this occasion the leaders of the party have already spoken to the Public Prosecutor of Yerevan, who assured them that everything possible was being done for quick and objective investigation of the crime. Hovhannisian stated the party would keep an eye on the investigation process. In his words in case of need representatives of "Dashnaktsutyun" party will meet with the President. Let us note that Poghos Poghosian was member of the party. According to the information provided by "Arminfo" agency, Poghos Poghosian tried to approach Charles Aznavour singer at night of September 24-25, when the latter was in "Poplavok" cafe together with President Robert Kocharian. The President's guard did not allow him to step up to Aznavour and Poghosian insulted the President. Poghosian's corpse was found in the lavatory of the cafe in ten minutes after the President left.

 

 

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[MosJan]

Today when Armenia is celebrating the 17 centuries of conversion to Christianity with an extensive range of festivities and events, when the Pope John Paul II is visiting the country which was first to embrace the grace of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when Armenia is in the center of world mass media, an incident takes place which cast shadow on everything Armenians are proud of .

 

 

The murder that happened at a cafe in central Yerevan on September 24 night, if it really has any connection to the security service of president of Armenia is a direct blow to the image of the country. A whole day has passed , but no concrete information about the incident is available from the law-enforcement bodies, except that an investigation is launched into the case.

 

 

On that day president Kocharian with several government officials and some foreign guests, including the world famous singer Charles Aznavour were at Aragast cafe in central Yerevan to listen to a jazz concert there. After the concert president Kocharian and his guests leave the cafe. Some time later the police gets a report that a body is found at the cafe’s lavatory. The police arrive to find the body of a dead man with bruises on the head and legs. But this was enough for several local newspapers to indicate that president Kocharian’s bodyguards were involved in the murder.

 

 

Citing some unnamed people they claim that Kocharian’s bodyguards have beaten to death a Poghos Poghosian, an Armenian from Georgia. Others say that the bodyguards returned after seeing off the president and took the revenge on a “disobedient” customer. Justice minister David Harutunian who was at the cafe at that moment said that before his leaving the cafe something had already happened. The minister left some 7-8 minutes after the president, but says that before it nothing extraordinary happened. But when he was about to leave an English-speaking man approached him demanding that he should see his country’s ambassador, but it was not clear what country’s ambassador he meant.

 

 

According to Kocharian’s press office, the president ordered yesterday the head of his security service to ban those of his bodyguards, who were allegedly involved in an incident at a Yerevan cafe September 24 from fulfilling their duties.

 

 

President Kocharian met with chief prosecutor and interior minister who reported on the pace of investigation into the alleged killing. Kocharian ordered to step up the investigation into the case.

 

 

Armenian parliament members were unanimous that what happened was casting a shadow on the country’s international image. Aghvan Vardanian from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation described one of the theories that the man died of a heart attack as “not convincing.” Stepan Zakarian from the opposition the People’s Party of Armenia hastened to accuse the authorities of supporting terror. The clamor raised by the opposition can to a certain extent be explained by the absence of any information form president Kocharian’s security service . Prime minister Margarian said in a televised interview that it was early to describe the incident as ‘a murder”, but this came after justice minister confirmed that what had happened was a murder and that everything should be done to reveal why it happened.

[MosJan]

THE FAMILY OF THE GEORGIAN CITIZEN PERISHED IN «ARAGAST» CAFE INTENDS TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FROM THE SECURITY SERVICE OF ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT

06.10.2001

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The relatives of the 43-old resident of Georgia, Nintsmindsky region, Jigrashen village Pogos Pogosyan, perished in Yerevan «Aragast» café intend to claim compensation from the security service of Armenia's president. As the elder brother of the perished Andranik Pogosyan has informed the correspondent of «Arminmfo» agency, Pogos Pogpsyan had $ 5000 that evening that he had received in Yerevan for the realization of several charitable projects in his village and region center Akhlkalak. The bother of the perished states that the law-enforcement bodies has returned $2600 to Poghosyan's relativesòâà. Pogosyan's mobile phone, that was in the car and the keys of the car disappeared. Andranik Pogosyan has emphasized the family of the perished intends to claim compensation from the security service of Armenia's head, «as besides disappeared money, the perished had debts, and his three children and wife, teacher lost the bread winner and have no means to live.

Yesterday, President Robert Kocharyan confirmed the connection of his bodyguards to Pogosyan's death. According to the head of the country, his safety officers that escorted him that evening in «Aragast» café have never participated in illegal activities. Robert Kocharyan called on journalists to wait for results of the investigation. The President has noted that if the court establishes that the security guards went beyond their commission then they will be punished according to the legislation. Robert Kocharyan does not think that as a result of the incident he has to avoid society completely. «President has to be in public places as well as in cafes», emphasized he.

 

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