http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PESC/09/72&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on prosecution of Mr Liu Xiaobo
The European Union is deeply concerned by the announcement that Mr Liu Xiaobo, a prominent Human Rights Defender and a signatory of the Charter 08 document, held in custody since 8 December 2008, was formally charged with a crime following the expression of his opinion and his peaceful civic engagement.
The European Union perceives raised accusations of "inciting subversion of state power and overthrowing the socialist system" as unfounded. In light of the Chinese Constitution's guarantees on the right to freedom of expression and in accordance with provisions of ICCPR which China signed in 1998, the European Union calls for the end of the prosecution of Mr Liu Xiaobo and his immediate release.
"The Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process."
