Senators call on leaders of Asian nations to release detainees

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators called on the leaders of Central Asian nations to release detainees imprisoned for peaceful activism who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.

The Senators sent letters to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“Individuals should never be imprisoned for exercising their rights of freedom of assembly, association, and speech,” the senators wrote. “We call for releasing these individuals on the merits of their cases, but today, we also urge you to act quickly on health and humanitarian grounds.  While all nations and citizens have been affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risks to the detainee population are particularly acute given the enclosed living conditions.”

The letter was signed by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Ben Cardin (D-MD).