“Telegram channels have already reported about the joint visit of Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, to the locations of temporary residence for forced migrants from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mijatović is meeting with officials, international organizations and civil society representatives and intends to make a statement on the visit results.

I join the experts in wondering whether the name of Ruben Vardanyan detained by Azerbaijani forces will be included in this statement. He is currently under arrest in Baku along with other prisoners.

The Azerbaijani authorities led by Ilham Aliyev are candid regarding their attitude to the issue — for instance, take a recent video with the president, where he tramples on the flag of the unrecognized republic.

One cannot count on Pashinyan to help, so only Russia can accelerate Vardanyan’s release. The Russian Federation should not abandon the person whose humanitarian and educational projects continue to work despite his detention. For example, the Skolkovo business school, whose graduates have already come up with a letter in support of Vardanyan.”