Karma Samdrup, a prominent Tibetan environmental rights defender, has been released after serving a 15-year prison sentence. He was first detained in January 2010.

Karma Samdrup released – November 2024. Photo via Tibet Post

Karma Samdrup founded the award-winning Three Rivers Environmental Protection Group and played a major role in protecting Tibet’s fragile ecosystem. His detention followed unsuccessful efforts to secure the release of his two brothers – Rinchen Samdrup and Jigme Namgyal – who were arrested after their environmental protection group – the Voluntary Environmental Protection Association of Kham Anchung Senggenamzong – sought to expose local officials who hunted endangered animals.

Karma Samdrup is now free from prison but will continue to serve five years of deprivation of political rights, with restrictions on his freedom of speech and other fundamental human rights actions.

We are monitoring the situation around his release and will share updates as we get them.