23/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Parliament calls for release of all political prisoners. In a resolution on Thursday 23 October, MEPs called on the authorities of Uzbekistan for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all persons imprisoned on politically motivated charges and to put an immediate stop to all forms of torture and abuse in prison. The MEPs call on the EU high representative and member states to “immediately” put in motion a strategy with the aim of pressing Uzbekistan “for concrete, measurable human rights improvements over the coming months”. The concrete improvements should include releasing all imprisoned human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience, the unimpeded operation of NGOs, freedom of speech and the media, fighting against child labour, and election processes in line with international standards. The Parliament underlines that if no progress is made, the EU should impose “targeted punitive measures”. (CG)