Council of Europe and OSCE Draw Attention to Political Prisoners in the Post-Soviet Space

Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, Socialist Group), the General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and Steve Cohen (USA), the Special Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Political Prisoners, issued a joint statement yesterday on the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners, which is observed on October 30.

"In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. On this International Day of Political Prisoners, these words remind us of our collective responsibility to those deprived of their liberty for defending truth, freedom, and human dignity. Today, we honour the memory of many around the world whose voices are silenced by prison walls. Their courage in the face of oppression embodies the principles our societies are built upon: the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, dissent, information, and participation in public life without fear or repression," their words are quoted in a press release from the Council of Europe's Communication Department.

The struggle for freedom is not isolated by state borders, Rojhan and Cohen noted. "From Minsk to Moscow, from Tbilisi to Baku, the stories of repression continue. We observe with deep concern the continued detention of Ales Bialiatski, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Belarus, and Alexei Gorinov in Russia. These brave individuals embody humanity and unwavering conviction, serving as beacons of light in the darkness of authoritarian regimes. We also note the exceptional courage of Václav Havel Human Rights Prize nominees Mzia Amaglobeli in Georgia and Ulvi Hasanli in Azerbaijan - journalists imprisoned for their commitment to truth and justice," the statement from the representatives of the Council of Europe and the OSCE read.

They also called for the immediate release of Vadim Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov - Ukrainian citizens and former OSCE staff "sentenced on politically motivated charges after farcical trials," in Russian-controlled occupied territories of Ukraine.

"These are just a few names among thousands. The plight of political prisoners is an indictment of regimes that suppress opposition and criminalise dissent," Rojhan and Cohen stressed.

The representatives of the Council of Europe and the OSCE urged all states to comply with their international obligations, investigate abuses, and release those detained on politically motivated charges.

"Where justice is rejected, collective action is required - be it diplomatic engagement, principled advocacy, or targeted sanctions against rights abusers (...). We remain committed to a world where no one is persecuted for speaking truth to power," the document concluded.