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YEREVAN. – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia is determining the citizenship of Arsen Voskanyan, who was released from captivity in Colombia, MFA Spokesperson Tigran Balayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

On January 21, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed the release of Voskanyan, who was captured by the Resistencia Cimarrón unit of the Colombian guerrilla group the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional; i.e. National Liberation Army), reported Vanguardia.com.

Local authorities believe that he was kidnapped while hunting for  golden poison frogs, to smuggle them out of the country.

According to preliminary information, Voskanyan is originally from Armenia, but he had entered Colombia with a Russian passport.

These frogs produce a deadly poison which European laboratories use in the preparation of painkillers.

One golden poison frog is worth up to €1,500 on the black market.

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