U.S. Congressman Cohen and Swedish Parliamentarian Rojhan Statement Recognizing International Day of Political Prisoners

On the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) General Rapporteur for political prisoners, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Political Prisoners, Steve Cohen (United States), made the following statement:

"In his letter from 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 universal responsibility towards those who have been deprived of their liberty for defending truth, freedom, and human dignity.

"Today, we honour the many individuals worldwide whose voices are silenced by prison walls. Their courage in the face of oppression embodies the principles upon which our societies are built: the fundamental rights to speak, to dissent, to inform, and to participate in public life without fear or reprisal.

"The struggle for freedom is neither isolated not constrained by borders. From Minsk to Moscow, from Tbilisi to Baku, stories of repression persist. We observe with grave concern the continued detention of Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Belarus, and Alexei Gorinov in Russia. These brave individuals embody humanity and unwavering convictions, serving as beacons of light amid the darkness of authoritarian rule. We also recognise the extraordinary courage of Václav Havel Human Rights Prize nominees Mzia Amaghobeli in Georgia and Ulvi Hassanli in Azerbaijan, journalists imprisoned for their commitment to truth and justice. We also reiterate our callfor the immediate release of Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov. These Ukrainian nationals and former OSCE officials were convicted on politically motivated charges following farce trials by the Russian-controlled 'supreme courts' in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

"These are just several names among thousands. Behind each name stands a suffering family, a community deprived of a valued member, and nations yearning for freedom and justice. The plight of political prisoners stands as an indictment of the regimes that silence opposition and criminalise dissent. Yet, even in the darkest of times, the quiet strength of these individuals continues to inspire and mobilise efforts for change.

"Our solidarity with political prisoners and their families does not end with words. We call upon all States to fulfill their international obligations by investigating abuses and releasing those detained on politically motivated charges. Where justice is denied, collective action-whether through diplomatic engagement, principled advocacy, or targeted sanctions against rights violators-must be pursued.

"To the political prisoners whose sacrifice transcends personal suffering, we say: You are not forgotten. Your integrity upholds the eternal flame of liberty. We remain committed to a world in which no one faces persecution for speaking truth to power.

"Democracy, justice, and human dignity are not concessions to be granted, but enduring demands. We stand united in defending them."

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