Written question asked by Alex Easton (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 27 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 October 2025. It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Friday, 31 October 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Kyrgyzstan: Detainees

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Kyrgyz counterpart on the (a) imprisonment and (b) torture of (i) Pastor Pavel Shreider and (ii) members of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure their release.

Answer: The UK regularly engages with Kyrgyzstan both bilaterally and in multilateral settings on a range of issues, including human rights matters. I raised Human rights concerns during our Strategic Dialogue in February this year. In Kyrgyzstan's most recent UN Universal Periodic Review in April this year, the UK raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and recommended amending legislation regarding "Incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious interregional hatred". Our Embassy in Kyrgyzstan monitors the human rights in the country and works closely with civil society organisations and multilateral partners.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 85571
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Detainees Religious freedom Torture Kyrgyzstan Christianity Shreider, Pavel
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk