1020 पटक हेरिएको
The EU Takes a Firm Stand for the Release of Bhutanese Political Prisoners
A high-level Bhutanese parliamentary delegation, led by H.E. Tshogpon Lungten Dorji, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, and joined by the Chairs of nine parliamentary committees, visited Brussels from 16–18 October 2025 to participate in the 8th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) between Bhutan and the European Union (EU). The visit also marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and the EU.
During the visit, the delegation met senior leaders of the European Parliament on 16 October and held further discussions with the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 17 October. In both engagements, the issue of Bhutanese political prisoners was raised emphatically. The EU called upon the Bhutanese representatives to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
In response, the Bhutanese delegation stated that the matter falls under the authority of His Majesty the King, and that the government has no direct power to intervene. The EU, in turn, urged the delegation to personally convey this request to His Majesty, emphasizing that the release of political prisoners would significantly strengthen Bhutan’s international reputation and attract greater global cooperation and investment.
This development marks a positive step forward. It is heartening to see that persistent advocacy efforts are gaining traction and that the issue is now being addressed openly at the highest diplomatic level. We sincerely hope that this message reaches His Majesty and that all our brothers imprisoned for political reasons will soon be freed.
The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) extends heartfelt gratitude to the European Parliament and the European External Action Service (EEAS) for their unwavering support and solidarity in defending human rights. We call upon the EU to continue this principled engagement until every Bhutanese political prisoner is released and fully rehabilitated.
