News•December 8, 2012 12:04 PM ET•10,470 views

U.S. State Department comments on Randy Blythe

You may recall that in July a Lamb of God fan petitioned the White House via their website for an official response relative to the late-June incarceration of Randy Blythe in the Czech Republic. The website claims that any petition garnering at least 25,000 signatures will receive a response. Obviously Blythe is back home now, so the matter is of less urgency, but nonetheless, and official response has indeed arrived. Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, has 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.