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Poghos Poghosyan

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Poghos Poghosian (d. September 25, 2001) was an ethnic Armenian from the Javakhk region of Georgia.[1] He was killed at Poplavok cafe in Yerevan on September 25, 2001 by the bodyguards of then President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan[2].

While at the cafe, a seated Poghos saw the president leaving the cafe with Charles Aznavour and greeted the president by saying "Hi Rob" as they left.[3] This very casual greeting was taken as an insult[4][5] by the president, and his bodyguards approached Poghosyan's table and asked to have a word with him. He was taken to the toilet where he was beaten and declared dead 10 minutes later by an ambulance paramedic.[6][7]

Human Rights Watch said that witnesses feared coming forward.[8] The trial was quick, with one of President Kocharyan's bodyguards, Aghamal Harutiunian, charged with involuntary manslaughter.[9] He was sentenced with a year of probation.[10]