YEREVAN. – “Food Provider” Artur Sargsyan could have been released from prison sooner, said Armenian Revival Party (ARP) MP candidate Edgar Arakelyan, at a press conference on Friday.
Also, he extended his condolences to Sargsyan’s family and relatives.
And when asked whether the ARP will temporarily suspend its parliamentary election campaign due to the mourning events in connection with the “Food Provider’s” death, Arakelyan noted, in particular, as follows: “We have not carried out events within the framework of the campaign, since yesterday. As for the assessments [regarding Sargsyan’s death], I believe everything is clear. He could have been released [from prison] sooner, and [they could have been] more attentive toward the matter of his treatment, especially when this was spoken about many times.”
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.
