The Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative at the McCain Institute and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign are hosted the U.S.-UK Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention, on March 12, 2026.
This convening aimed to deepen transatlantic policy and civil society coordination on support for arbitrary detainees and hostages, shine light on emblematic cases of political imprisonment, and outline a forward-looking policy agenda. Participants will include U.S. and UK lawmakers, former political prisoners and hostages, family members and other advocates for prisoners, and representatives from civil society. Among others, we are looking forward to welcoming UK Parliamentarian Alicia Kearns. The October 30 Foundation is also a partner for this event.
Welcome
• Pedro Pizano, McCain Institute
Opening Statements
• Vladimir Kara-Murza, Free Russia Foundation, and Evgenia Kara-Murza, 30 October Foundation
• Senator Peter Welch, U.S. Senate
• Sir William Browder (virtual), Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign
Panel 1 – Global State of Play: Diplomacy, Government Response, Transatlantic
Relationship
• Vladimir Kara-Murza, Free Russia Foundation
• Alicia Kearns, MP, U.K. House of Commons/All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Arbitrary Detention
and Hostage Affairs
• Ambassador Roger Carstens, Former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs & John McCain
Freedom for Political Prisoners Distinguished Senior Fellow
• Doug Levinson (moderator), Former Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Economic
Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Panel 2 – The Role of Faith Communities
• Grace Jin Drexel, advocate for political prisoner in China, Pastor Ezra Jin
• Representative Peter Roskam, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Faisal Al Mutar, Ideas Beyond Borders
• Professor Mark V. Vlasic (moderator), Madison Law & Strategy Group/Georgetown University
Panel 3 – Cross-Border Insights & Cooperation
• Maxime Woods-Gauthier, Global Affairs Canada – Hostage Affairs
• Felix Maradiaga, World Liberty Congress & University of Virginia
• Tatiana Eatwell, Doughty Street Chambers
• Ambassador Roger Carstens, Former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs & John McCain
Freedom for Political Prisoners Distinguished Senior Fellow
• Brandon Silver (moderator), Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
Keynote Address from John Coale
• John Coale, Special Presidential Envoy
• Dr. Evelyn Farkas (moderator), McCain Institute
Lightning Round 1 – Jesús Armas and Sairam Rivas
• Jesús Armas, former political prisoner in Venezuela
• Sairam Rivas, advocate for Jesús Armas
• Pedro Pizano (moderator), McCain Institute
Lightning Round 2 – Chris Pagett and Dr. Matthew Hedges (virtual)
• Chris Pagett, advocate for arbitrary detainee in the United Arab Emirates, Ryan Cornelius
• Dr. Matthew Hedges, former arbitrary detainee in the United Arab Emirates and author of Reinventing
the Sheikdom, Clan, Power and Patronage in MBZ’s UAE
• Jonas Helyar (moderator), Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign
Panel 4 – Deterrence and Accountability
• David Bowker, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP
• Holly Lindquist Thomas, U.S. Department of State – Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for
Hostage Affairs
• Ryan Fayhee, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
• Jon B. Alterman (moderator), Center for Strategic & International Studies
Panel 5 – Advocates for Current Hostages, Political Prisoners, and Wrongful Detainees
• Vida Mehrannia (virtual), advocate for state hostage in Iran, Ahmadreza Djalali
• Tamar Rukhadze, advocate for political prisoner in Georgia, Mzia Amaghlobeli
• Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, human rights lawyer/advocate for political prisoners in China and Georgia,
Jimmy Lai and Mzia Amaghlobeli
• Evgenia Kara-Murza, 30 October Foundation/advocate for political prisoner in Russia, Alexei Gorinov
• Katie Symansky Hunter (moderator), Hostage U.S.
Panel 6 – Iran
• Vida Mehrannia (virtual), advocate for state hostage in Iran, Ahmadreza Djalali
• Ryan Fayhee, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
• Joe Bennett, advocate for state hostages in Iran, Craig and Lindsay Foreman
• Jason Rezaian (moderator), The Washington Post
Panel 7 – Recovery
• Diane Foley, The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
• Dr. Young Hoang, U.S. Department of State – Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage
Affairs
• Ambassador Roger Carstens, Former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs & John McCain
Freedom for Political Prisoners Distinguished Senior Fellow
• Olivia Enos (moderator), Hudson Institute
Panel 8 – International Mechanisms
• Introduction: Amanda Strayer, Human Rights First
• Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, human rights lawyer
• Jared Genser, Perseus Strategies, LLC
• Brian Tronic, Freedom House
• Brandon Silver (moderator), Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
Closing Statement
• Ariane Gottlieb, McCain Institute