Informed of the death of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate LIU Xiaobo, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri, and the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China, Mr Jo Leinen, made the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death today in Shenyang, China, of Nobel Prize laureate LIU Xiaobo. The European Parliament has expressed solidarity with his peaceful actions and initiatives in favour of democratic reforms and the protection of human rights, and has repeatedly urged his immediate and unconditional release, and the lifting of restrictions on his wife LIU Xia, since 2010....."

Alarmed by the deteriorating health of Nabeel Rajab, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri made the following statement:

"The President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Nabeel Rajab, has been held in pre-trial detention for over a year because he spoke out against human rights violations in Bahrain..."

The EU must remain at the forefront of eradicating torture worldwide, says DROI Chair Panzeri (S&D, IT) on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

"Commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture we must remember all those who suffer basic human rights violations, physical and psychological abuses and injuries as a result of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, especially vulnerable groups, such as children, women, migrants, refugees and persons belonging to minorities...."

Tomorrow, 20 June, is celebrated as World Refugee Day. The Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), has made the following statement:

"World Refugee Day is a day for us to focus on solidarity and on the rights of individual refugees worldwide. We have an obligation to receive asylum seekers and not to force them to return to a country in which they would be in danger of persecution. This principle reflects the commitment of the international community to ensure to all persons the enjoyment of human rights. June 20th is a day for us to commemorate the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees. The right of asylum is one of the fundamental values underpinning our Union and one, which like solidarity among the Member States, we must protect at all costs".

As Russia Day - the national holiday of the Russian Federation - was being celebrated, it was reported that Russian opposition figure and blogger Alexei Navalny had been arrested. The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister (EPP, DE), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), and the Chair of the Russia Delegation of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (EPP, AT) have made the following statement:

Yesterday as Russia Day - the national holiday of the Russian Federation - was being celebrated, it was reported that Russian opposition figure and blogger Alexei Navalny had been arrested. The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister (EPP, DE), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), and the Chair of the Russia Delegation of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (EPP, AT) have made the following statement:

"We are very concerned to hear of the arrest of Alexei Navalny on Russia Day. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly plays a decisive role in the emergence and existence of effective democratic systems as it is a channel allowing for dialogue, pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness, where minority or dissenting views or beliefs are respected...."

The report on addressing human rights violations in the context of war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including genocide (2016/2239(INI)) by Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, RO) was approved in the AFET Committee today by 50 votes to 2, with 6 abstentions. It will be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole at the July plenary session in Strasbourg.