Today marks the 30th anniversary of the violent suppression of the peaceful Tiananmen Square democracy protests of 1989. At that time the European Council, meeting in Madrid on 26-27 June 1989, strongly condemned the brutal repression that ensued. Thirty years later, the European Union continues to mourn the victims and offers its condolences to their families.

The European Union calls for the immediate release of Yu Wensheng, as well as other detained and convicted human rights defenders and lawyers including Wang Quanzhang, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Huang Qi, Tashi Wangchuk, Li Yuhan, Wu Gan and Liu Feiyue.