YEREVAN. – So that incidents such as what happened to the “Food Provider” no longer recur in Armenia, Yelk (Way Out) Bloc will continue is parliamentary election campaign, and defeat the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, the bloc’s MP candidate Gevorg Gorgisyan said at a press conference on Friday.

In his words, the Yelk representatives had fought to save the life of Artur Sargsyan, a.k.a. the Food Provider.

“We will not stop the election campaign even in the days of the mourning ceremonies, since we can’t allow ourselves to wait even one day,” stressed Gorgisyan. “We need to work every day to deprive the Republican Party of Armenia of power.”

The parliamentary election in Armenia will be conducted on April 2.

Artur Sargsyan, a.k.a. the Food Provider, died Thursday at “Armenia” Medical Center, in capital city of Yerevan

Sargsyan, who was charged with aiding the Sasna Tsrer armed group, was released from prison on December 31, 2016, since he had an illness that was incompatible with imprisonment. 

On February 9, however, he was arrested yet again.

Subsequently, Sargsyan went on hunger strike, and demanded that his preventive measure of arrest be commuted.

A few days ago, and with a written guarantee by several dozen MPs, he was released from prison and immediately hospitalized.

Several days ago, however, he left the hospital on his own volition.

But his health grew worse on Wednesday evening, and he was rushed to “Armenia” Medical Center, where he underwent surgery; but he did not regain consciousness after this operation.

The Sasna Tsrer armed group had taken over a police patrol regiment building in Yerevan, taken hostages, but later surrendered, in July 2016. 

On July 26, Artur Sargsyan had broken through a police wall with a vehicle loaded with food, and delivered food to the members of this armed group.

Sargsyan, 48, was a sculptor and a wood engraver.