‘They will keep the captives as long as…’: Observations by the former head of the State Audit Office

The former head of the State Audit Office and former MP, Tigran Olikhanyan, writes: ‘It is difficult to write about captives or those held in custody, but difficult matters must also be addressed. Captives will be kept as long as they are considered ‘useful’ (i.e., can provide benefits).

I believe that all negotiations regarding the return of captives should cease with the detaining side. Communication with the detaining party on this issue should only be about technical matters, for example, at which airport the plane that will return the captives will land, what kind of compensation will be provided to the captives, and so on.

The exploitation of this issue by the opposition or other interested groups should also possibly lead to legislation that deprives the government of the power to conduct such negotiations, in order to exclude the possibility of captives being used as a bargaining factor. Any verbal or written agreement or promise regarding the return of captives should be considered a serious criminal offense. This will also provide additional deterrence against further abductions.

Through these measures, the holding of captives should be rendered senseless for the detaining country. The presence of captives in any country is a disgrace to that country’s reputation, and I believe no country will hold a captive if it knows that there is no possibility of gaining any negotiating advantage or other ‘benefit’ from doing so.