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Los Angeles Armenian Arrests
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On 30 May 1982 three Armenian American members of ASALA (Hratch Kozibioukian, Stranouche Kozibioukian and Vartan Berkev Chirinian, all from Van Nuys. California) are arrested by the FBI in Los Angeles when planting an explosive device in the Air Canada Cargo building at Los Angeles. The Los Angles Police Department Bomb Squad defuses the device 15 minutes before it was set to explode. The three ASALA terrorists confessed that the bomb was intended to force the release of Haroutium Kevork, Haig Balian, Haig Karkhanian, and Melkon Karakhanian from Canadian authorities. They also confessed that a fourth ASALA member, Iraqi-born Viken Setrag Tchartkhutian of Hollywood, had built the bomb and forced them to cooperate. Tchartkhutian had fled to France on May 28, 1982, where he was arrested. The United States submitted an extradition request for Tchartkhutian but France refused and later released Tchartkhutian as terrorist attacks targeting French establishments mounted. Tchartkhutian, then went to Iraq. The United States and Iraqi officials negotiated Tchartkhutian's return to the United States without the need for a formal extradition request. Tchartkhutian returned and was arrested in Los Angeles on September 7, 1987. Tchartkhutian was convicted on counts similar to those in the indictment of Defendant Mourad (Murad) Topalian. Tchartkhutian received only a 12-year sentence out of a maximum sentence of 35 years, and served six years. Tchartkhutian was released on 1 July 1993.
This entry is part of the Encylopedia of Armenians, which is supported by the TÃœBÄ°TAK. s.l.
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