Shortly after Randy Blythe’s arrest in the Czech Republic, over 25,000 fans signed a petition in an attempt to have the White House acknowledge the matter. While the Lamb Of God singer was finally released (though will likely stand trial soon), the U.S. State Department finally released their response this morning.
In response to the petition, Michael Posner (Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor) issued the following statement:
“We appreciate your inquiry about the case of D. Randall Blythe, who was released from detention in the Czech Republic on August 3, 2012, and returned to the United States shortly thereafter. Mr. Blythe has publicly stated his intention to return to the Czech Republic to face trial for the alleged manslaughter of a Czech man at a concert in 2010. He recently told MTV, ‘It’s the correct thing for me to do … this poor young man’s family deserves some answers.’ Pending Mr. Blythe’s trial, we cannot discuss the details of his case. We are closely monitoring the progress of his trial.
The Department of State noted in its 2011 Human Rights Report that in the Czech Republic, ‘The laws provide for the right to a fair trial, and the independent judiciary generally enforced this right.’ We expect that the Czech government will make all efforts to ensure a fair, transparent, and timely trial for Mr. Blythe, and guarantee full protection of his legal rights under Czech law and his welfare.
If you would like to know more about what the Department of State does for U.S. citizens overseas, please visit our website at www.Travel.State.Gov. General information on U.S. human rights policy is available at www.HumanRights.gov.”
Unsurprisingly, the statement reads more of a “Thanks for sharing” reply than an official response. Though we know Blythe has been indicted, it remains unclear as to when his trial will take place.
