Several political forces suspend election campaign following Arthur  Sargsyan`s death 

ArmInfo. Several political forces have suspended their election campaign following the death of Arthur Sargsyan, who supplied food to the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoon) group last summer.  

In particular, the Tsarukyan and Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian (ORO) blocs  have made statements, saying that on March 17 and 18 they will hold  no campaign events.  The ORO bloc says that Sargsyan's self-sacrifice  cannot remain traceless and it should make the Armenian society  conduct a joint fight. "We must take steps to consolidate the  political forces to change the power in the country," the statement  says. 

Tsarukyan bloc leader Gagik Tsarukyan, in turn, noted that Sargsyan's  death is a big tragedy for all the citizens of the country. The  Armenian National Congress (ANC) has also expressed its condolence  over Sargsyan's death and condemned the relevant bodies' violation of  human rights and the Criminal Code.  The ANC demands revealing the  cause of Sargsyan's death and holding the culprits accountable.   

Leader of the Apricot Country Party Zaruhi Postanjyan said that  Sargsyan was killed by the authorities, who tortured him. "The  authorities should have taken all measures to provide Sargsyan with  all necessary things during his hunger strike. However, they did  nothing," she said, adding that very often the convicts on hunger  strike do not even receive elementary medical assistance. 

Meanwhile, Spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia, Vice  Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov urges the  political forces not to speculate on Sargsyan's death. As regards  Sargsyan's death cause, Sharmazanov abstained from any assessments,  saying that it is the specialists' affair. "If the examination finds  out that there were unconscientious actions and law violations, I  think the culprits will be punished," he stressed. Sharmazanov noted  that while being in detention Sargsyan refused medical assistance for  several times despite his health deterioration.  To remind, Arthur Sargsyan, the man who delivered food in summer 2016  to the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoon) group occupying a police  compound in Yerevan, died on March 16 ten days after being released  from prison following a 25-day hunger strike. He passed away at  Armenia Medical Center in Yerevan, where he underwent bowel surgery  the previous night. To recall, in July 2016 Sargsyan drove his car  through a police cordon to deliver food to the armed members of Sasna  Tsrer group during their two-week standoff with security forces. He  surrendered to them on July 31 along with the remaining group members  holed up in the compound. Sargsyan was arrested and charged with  aiding the Sasna Tsrer group.  Armenia's Special Investigative  Service agreed on December 31 to free him pending trial due to his  deteriorating health condition. The suspect suffered from several  chronic diseases. The Special Investigative Service (SIS) again  detained him on February 9, saying that he ignored a summons from SIS  officials investigating the standoff which left three police officers  dead. Sargsyan went on a hunger strike in protest against his  detention. The Office of the Prosecutor-General ordered Sargsyan's  release after opposition parliamentarians posted bail for him on  March 6. He was transported from a prison hospital to the Armenia  Medical Center.