Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has formally requested the release of Mr Andargachew Tsege; and if he will make a statement.

The UK Government has taken every opportunity to raise Mr Tsege’s case at the very highest levels in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government are in no doubt about our concern for Mr Tsege and the priority we place on his wellbeing. We have not directly called for Mr Tsege’s release. Britain does not interfere in the legal system of other countries by challenging convictions, any more than we would accept interference in our judicial system. Our priority is to ensure Mr Tsege’s wellbeing and access to legal advice. We believe that calling for his release would not be successful at this stage and could put at risk the progress that has been made, including our access to Mr Tsege.