Hagop Hagopian (guerilla)
| Hagop Hagopian Հակոբ Հակոբյան |
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| Born | 1951 Mosul, Iraq |
| Died | 28 April 1988 (aged 36–37) Athens, Greece |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Known for | Leader of ASALA |
Hagop Hagopian (or Agop Agopian; Armenian: Յակոբ Յակոբեան; 1951–28 April 1988) was an Armenian activist, guerrilla fighter and one of the founders and the main leader of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA).
Born in Mosul, Iraq as Harutiun Takoshian, he took the nom de guerre Hagop Hagopian, and moved to Lebanon, where according to some sources he joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In 1975, alongside with writer Kevork Ajemian and others, and with the support from Palestinian groups, he founded in Beirut the ASALA. As leader of ASALA, he directed attacks and assassinations of Turkish diplomats and their families in various countries of the world.
Many in the leadership of ASALA and JCAG were reported to be highly educated, multilingual individuals. The most notorious was the shadowy figure of Hagop Hagopian, presumed an alias, who led ASALA during most of its active phase.
Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Hagopian fled and supposedly set up new bases in Damascus and Athens. He broke with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which had given ASALA training and support, and linked up with the anti-PLO leader Abu Nidal.
Hagopian was wanted in France for masterminding the Orly Airport attack in July 1983. This attack resulted in a split in ASALA, with the splinter group ASALA Revolutionary Movement led by Monte Melkonian condemning "the murderous deviation" of Hagopian. Hagopian's more militant faction concentrated in the Middle East and Greece. In the aftermath of the split, Hagopian executed two of Melkonian's allies within ASALA in retaliation for the assassination of two of Hagopian's closest aides.
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