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Armenia’s Investigative Committee instigated a criminal case on Friday over the death of Artur Sargsyan, who died in a medical center yesterday days after being released from a penitentiary. As Panorama.am learnt from the Committee, the case is opened according to Part 2 of the Article 130 of the RA Criminal Code. which is failure to implement or improper implementation of professional duties by medical and support personnel, as a result of careless or not diligent treatment which through negligence caused the patient’s death.

The charge is punished with imprisonment for the term from 2 to 6 years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain posts and practice certain activities for the term of up to 3 years, or without that.

The decision to open a criminal case came a day after the death of Artur Sargsyan.

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 along with 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, several MPs filed a petition to the Prosecutor’s Office, Sargsyan was released from the penitentiary and transferred to medical center.

Earlier the Investigative Committee launched investigation to look into the circumstances of the death of Artur Sargsyan, appointing a medical forensic examination that could be attended or implemented by Sargsyan’s relatives or the specialists assigned by them.