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Dozens of people gathered at Liberty square in Yerevan in what appeared to be a spontaneous rally in memory of Artur Sargsyan, who died earlier today in a medical center.  Panorama.am reports the protesters marched through the Mashtots avenue, chanting “Artur – Bread Bringer”, while the police officers accompanied the rally participants to secure the traffic flow.

The protesters first marched to the Ministry of Justice and then to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Yerevan Deputy Chief of Police Valeri Osipyan spoke to the protesters calling for avoiding clashes with law enforcement officers and maintain the public order.

The rally broke out hours after the news about the death of Artur Sargsyan came. Sargsyan, 49, had been charged for taking food to the seized members of the “Sasna Tsrer” armed group during the hostage standoff in July 2016 in Yerevan.

Nicknamed ‘Bread Bringer’, Artur Sargsyan had been initially charged with Illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices of the RA Criminal Code. Later, Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS) Committee requalified the charges brought against Sargsyan to “assisting the members of the armed group”.

Despite the official charges against Sargsyan, most of the public praised him for what they called “heroic deed” and “self-sacrifice” for providing food to gunmen holding regular rallies in support of the man.

Over the past five month Sargsyan had been twice under detention with the first release in December and then - in March. During the second detention Sargsyan announced a hunger strike that reportedly ended in health deterioration.  On March 5, after several MPs filed a petition to the Prosecutor’s Office, Sargsyan was released from the penitentiary and transferred to medical center.

RA Prosecutor General’s Office issued a statement on launching an investigation into the circumstances of Sargsyan’s death.