Russia will protect rights of Ruben Vardanyan,  Peskov says

ArmInfo.Russia will protect the rights of former state minister of the unrecognized  Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ruben Vardanyan if he has Russian citizenship.  Spokespersonof the Russian President Dmitry Peskov stated.

"He is also a Russian citizen, isn't he? He has Russian citizenship,  one way or another we need to get information. If there was a  detention, this is a common practice and we will protect his rights,"  Peskov said during a conference call, URA.RU reports.  He added that  he does not have information about Vardanyan's detention and whether  he has Russian citizenship, so he does not undertake to comment on  the situation.  Earlier it was reported about Vardanyan's arrest.   Russian journalist Tina Kandelaki wrote on her Telegram channel that  "he was arrested and captured at the border while trying to leave  Artsakh".

Later, Ruben Vardanyan's wife Veronica Zonabend issued a statement,  which is presented below: "This morning, my husband, Ruben Vardanyan,  a philanthropist, businessman, and former Minister of State of the  Republic of Artsakh was arrested and detained by the Azerbaijani  authorities at the border while trying to leave Artsakh along with  thousands of other Armenians fleeing the Azerbaijani occupation.  All  ten months of the blockade, Ruben stood shoulder to shoulder with the  people of Artsakh, suffered hardships, and fought with them for  survival. I pray that my husband will be released unharmed, and I ask  for your support."