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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Andargachew Tsege (20 March 2017)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the legality of Andy Tsege's (a) trial, (b) arrest and rendition and (c) detention.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Answer

​It is Mr Tsege's right and wish to have access to legal advice and that is why we have pursued this for him. I am pleased that, on 15 March, Mr Tsege had an introductory meeting with a lawyer, allowing him to discuss his options under Ethiopian law.

The Ethiopian and Yemeni authorities have both stated that they have a bilateral treaty that permits Mr Tsege's extradition to Ethiopia. Although we have requested sight of it, we have not seen this agreement and are not in a position to form a view as to the legality of the process in this case.

Our consular priorities continue to be Mr Tsege's wellbeing, his access to legal representation, and to ensure that the death sentence is not carried out.


Answered by:
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Conservative)
23 March 2017

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