Statement By Senators Mccain, Barrasso & Whitehouse Calling On Russian Federation To Release Estonian Police Officer Eston Kohver From Illegal Detention

Press Release

U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today met with Estonian officials, including Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in Tallinn, Estonia to discuss security threats in a region that is on the front lines of Russia's rising aggression. An important component of their conversations was the case of Estonian police officer, Mr. Eston Kohver, who was illegally abducted by Russian operatives one year ago and recently sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for crimes he did not commit. Senators McCain, Whitehouse and Barrasso released the following statement calling on the Russian Federation to release Mr. Kohver from detention:

"We are deeply troubled by Russia's continued illegal detention of Mr. Kohver and call on the Russian Federation to comply with its international obligations by immediately releasing him and guaranteeing his safe return to his family in Estonia. We stand in solidarity with the Estonian people and share their outrage over Mr. Kohver's case. Mr. Kohver's abduction and illegitimate conviction are clear provocations by Vladimir Putin and demonstrate his complete disregard for international law and standards of behavior."

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