13/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU calls for immediate release of Azimjan Askarov. On Tuesday evening 12 July, the Spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) urged the authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic to release the civil rights activist Azimjan Askarov from detention, in line with the United Nations Human Rights Committee's recommendation, whilst awaiting the results of his new trial. Askarov has been imprisoned since 2010. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic decided to return the case to a regional court for the opening of a new trial. The hearing came in response to findings adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee published on 21 April 2016 (EUROPE 11539). The EEAS Spokesperson emphasised that “a new process should start swiftly, in respect of international standards and taking into account the UN Human Rights Committee's findings”. (CCG)