YEREVAN. - A protest in memory of “Food Provider”Artur Sargsyan has kicked off in Liberty Square of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

The number of protestors is relatively less than during the previous days, perhaps due to the weather conditions, Armenian News - NEWS.am correspondent reports.

Activist and rally leader Shahen Harutyunyan announced that a group of youths stayed in the square overnight. He noted that on Friday they submitted a demand to the Government and they were to get the response on Saturday. “The guys went [to the Government] but no response—not even that of denial—was given. They actually refuse to bury Artur Sargsyan in Yerablur [military] Pantheon,” Harutyunyan said.

He also noted that the public is wrong in thinking that this is their only demand: They also demand to hold accountable all those guilty of Artur Sargsyan’s death. Apart from this, the protestors demand to relieve from office the Justice Minister and Prosecutor General.

Following this, the march from the Liberty Square kicked off.

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.