WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) took to the Senate floor Tuesday to advocate for the freedom of political prisoners around the world. The Senators urged bipartisan cooperation to secure the release of prisoners of conscience who are detained, often in inhumane conditions, for peacefully expressing views that are critical of their repressive governments.  

“I appreciate Whip Durbin’s leadership in advocating for the freedom of those wrongfully detained. Speaking out on their behalf is among the most important ways that we can use our voices as United States Senators, and I am honored to join Senator Durbin in this effort,” said Sen. Welch following his speech on the Senate floor.

Watch the Senator’s full remarks below: 

Key quotes from Senator Welch:   

“The arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of individuals for nothing more than peacefully expressing views in support of democracy, in support of freedom of expression, and other human rights, is abhorrent. These folks are accused of all sorts of fabricated charges, and it’s really the use of the awesome power of a state to essentially oppress people who are critical of the state. These folks are apprehended, they’re subject oftentimes to inhumane conditions—often solitary confinement—in decrepit prisons without access to lawyers or families. They’re erased—they become invisible, as Senator Durbin was discussing. And some of these folks die in prison from torture or untreated medical conditions.   

“So, any time we can raise the possibility of their getting some attention so their case can be heard, so they have some possibility of release, it’s a good use of our time. The question about why we do it kind of surprises me, actually, because the answer is simple: Americans care about people whose fundamental rights are denied. And whoever and wherever they are we should continue to express that concern.  

“And I’m proud to say that that’s certainly a legacy of my predecessor, Senator Patrick Leahy, who served in this body for 48 years. In fact, that right is every person’s responsibility under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which no country voted against when it was adopted on December 10th, 1948, 66 years ago today.” 

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“Our goal here is not always to have everything be instrumental immediately. But it is to reassert the commitment that this United States Senate has to do what is within our power—and sometimes it’s very limited, as in this case, of advocacy and attention—to highlight and hopefully result in the highlighting of an oppressive situation to have a release of a person who’s been unjustly detained. So, I just want to express my gratitude to Senator Durbin. And, over the years, I’ve met people who used to be political prisoners and were shaking the hand of Senator Durbin, and his advocacy made a difference. The advocacy of other members of the Senate makes a difference.” 

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In his remarks, Senator Welch highlighted the stories of Maryia Kalesnikava, Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo, and Dr. Salah Soltan, three individuals who have been unjustly arrested and remain behind bars in multiple countries.  

Maryia Kalesnikava was a leading member of the Belarusian political opposition calling for free and fair elections in Belarus. After every leading opposition candidate had either been jailed or fled the country, Maryia was apprehended in 2020 by officials driving an unmarked vehicle and taken to the Belarus border where they attempted to forcibly deport her to Ukraine. Shortly thereafter Maryia was tried and sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony for her political activity. In November, Senator Welch met with Maryia’s sister, Tatsiana Khomic, Volha Harbunova, and political and human rights activists to discuss ways to help secure the release of Maryia and other political prisoners in Belarus. 

Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo is an Afro-Cuban musician and writer who won a Latin Grammy Award while imprisoned in a Cuban jail. He was arrested in May 2021 following months of police harassment, including intensive surveillance, movement restrictions, and “preventative” detention, and sentenced a year later on politically motivated charges of evading police custody and sharing social media critical of the government.  

Dr. Salah Soltan is a 65-year-old U.S. Permanent Resident, academic scholar, and prisoner of conscience in Egypt. He is a husband, father, and grandfather to 11 grandchildren—American citizens—with deep roots in Michigan and the Midwest. Dr. Soltani has been unjustly imprisoned for 12 years and is in fragile health. 

Read the Senator’s remarks as delivered. 

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