What is gourgen yanikian?

Gourgen Yanikian (1900-1984) was an Armenian-American who gained notoriety for killing two Turkish diplomats in 1973. Yanikian had survived the Armenian Genocide and dedicated his life to seeking justice for the Armenian people. In 1973, he met with Turkish consul general Mehmet Baydar and vice-consul Bahadir Demir in Santa Barbara, California, and shot and killed them both. Yanikian turned himself in and defended his actions in court, arguing that the Turkish government was responsible for the deaths of over a million Armenians during the Genocide and that the diplomats represented that government. Although initially found guilty and sentenced to death, his sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment. He was released on humanitarian grounds in 1984 and died shortly after. Yanikian's actions remain controversial, with some arguing that he was a hero and others condemning his violence.