The Maldivian government must abide by international standards and conventions, so long as they are party to treaties and agreements, said former Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed.

Shaheed, currently a rapporteur with the United Nations, told RaajjeMV that this means the international community’s rejection of the prison sentence against former President Mohamed Nasheed must be reflected domestically.

The diplomat highlighted that Maldives has signed several agreements that obligates it to, to an extent, abide by the demands of the international community.

“Why cannot the government do as it pleases and tap the phones of the Indian ambassador and embassy? Because of agreements like these” Shaheed said.

He is referring to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 2005 Vienna Law on Treaties.