"Regardless of Ruben Vardanyan's or any other RA citizen's attitude towards the current authorities, the state is obliged to protect the rights of its illegally detained citizens. And if the state does not exercise this positive right, it means that it is failing one of its important functions," said Siranush Sahakyan, head of the “International and Comparative Law Center,” in an interview with News.am.
In the interview, Siranush Sahakyan noted what tools a state needs to release its citizens arrested in another country, according to a number of international documents.
"The first and most important thing is to conduct effective negotiations on their release. This is the obligation of the state towards its citizens, not a favor from the state. The other important point is to ensure that the arrested persons have access to consular services in every possible way," Sahakyan noted, adding that if diplomatic efforts are ineffective, the government can publicly raise its voice, condemn the illegal detention of its citizens, make statements regarding their immediate release, draw the attention of international media to the issue, and appeal to competent international bodies and structures, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The interview below: