Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes

Official account of the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). TOU: RT ≠ Endorsement

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

The U.S. welcomes the meeting today between Jorge Rodriguez as President of the National Assembly (AN) of 2026 and representative of the Venezuelan Interim Government, and 2015 Venezuelan National Assembly President Dinorah Figuera to discuss an agenda that will serve as the roadmap for a political dialogue on a democratic transition.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Today marks three months since 16-year-old Jonathan David Muir Burgos was sent to a maximum-security Cuban prison, supposedly for participating in a demonstration. He urgently needs medical attention and has not received it. No person - especially no child - should be imprisoned for their political or religious views. We call on the Cuban regime to immediately release him and all unjustly detained political prisoners.

[U.S. Embassy Kyiv @USEmbassyKyiv]

Цієї ночі Росія атакувала християнську святиню - собор XI ст в Києві, а також забрала життя п’ятьох рятувальників у Харкові. Я на власні очі побачила руйнування унікальної історичної памʼятки в Києво-Печерській лаврі. Також були удари по житлових будинках, внаслідок яких було госпіталізовано дорослих і дітей. Атаки проти мирних жителів і християнських святинь є неприйнятними. Це жахливе насильство має припинитися, а війна повинна закінчитися.

Посол Девіс

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

It was an honor to visit the Republic of Korea to reaffirm our ironclad alliance, advance key human rights priorities in North Korea, and encourage the ROK government to recommit to protecting freedom of expression and religious liberty. I look forward to continuing this important work together.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Thank you to @twtNKDB for the tour of the “Her Day in North Korea” exhibit, where we learned how the DPRK regime controls the everyday lives of North Koreans. The United States will continue to shine a spotlight on the regime’s pervasive human rights abuses.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Choi Jinyoung’s father, Choi Chun-gil, has been unjustly detained by the DPRK for more than a decade. The Choi family’s story is a powerful reminder that the tearing apart of families is not an isolated issue – from Korean-American divided families, those abducted from the ROK and Japan, to American POWs whose remains have yet to return home.  The United States will never forget those left behind and is committed to resolving these cases.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Today is Dr. Gulshan Abbas’s 8th birthday in detention on unfounded charges.  The CCP must stop its acts of transnational repression and attempts to silence U.S. citizens through coercion and intimidation and release Dr. Abbas so she can reunite with her family.

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

Today, I am sanctioning Cuba’s state-owned energy company, Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET), under President Trump’s EO 14404. Cuba’s Communist elites have weaponized energy as a tool of social control and kleptocratic profit.

For decades, the regime has stolen and hoarded available fuel — using it for the Castros’ private jet, the security services forces used to repress the Cuban people, to keep empty tourist hotels lit up, and to bus people in for fake protests and political stunts — all while the Cuban people have suffered blackouts and waited weeks to fill their cars.

President Trump wants a new future for the Cuban people with greater economic and political freedom and opportunity. Until then, we will continue to target the Communist regime’s ability to leverage its energy trade to further its corrupt agenda and violently repress the Cuban people.

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

The Murillo-Ortega dictatorship is an enemy of humanity. The Trump Administration will not ignore their crimes and brutality, including the dictatorship’s singular role in the death of political opposition leader Brooklyn Rivera. Today, @StateDept took steps to impose visa restrictions on over 100 Nicaraguan officials who continue to carry out Murillo and Ortega’s malign agenda.

[Ambassador Richard Buangan @USAmbMongolia]

Great to host Assistant Secretary @StateDRL during his visit to Mongolia. We are committed to supporting Mongolia’s progress in strengthening democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Thank you to His Eminence Khamba Lama D. Javzandorj for his warm hospitality as I visited the beautiful Gandan Monastery — the Center of Mongolian Buddhism.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Had meaningful conversations with religious leaders representing multiple faith groups about their experiences in Mongolia.

[USForeignAssist @USForeignAssist]

Today, @StateDept announced more than $240 million in humanitarian assistance to @CatholicRelief (CRS). This funding will support CRS’ life-saving assistance around the world, leveraging faith in action to address humanitarian needs via their extensive network of local partners.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

“The violent persecution of Christians is a barbaric evil, and my Administration remains firmly committed to ending it in all its forms.” - @POTUS
https://t.co/iMw8qHNF0L

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

On June 4, the world marks 37 years since the Chinese Communist Party ordered its troops to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square. Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

I had the privilege of meeting with World Vision and The Asia Foundation to discuss our partnership in the U.S.-Mongolia Child Protection Compact. Because of our effective collaboration with these organizations and the Mongolian government, the US will award an additional $2.25M to combat child trafficking in Mongolia over the next two years. Together we can bring to justice those who perpetrate these heinous crimes.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

.@SecRubio spoke with Kenyan President @WilliamsRuto about the coordinated U.S.-Kenya response to the Ebola outbreak. Together, we're strengthening disease surveillance and supporting regional health security.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Congratulations to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Tibetan diaspora community on their elections, and to Penpa Tsering on his re-election as the CTA's Sikyong. The United States will continue to engage with democratically elected Tibetan leaders in support of Tibetans everywhere.

[Senior Official Jeremy Lewin @UnderSecretaryF]

We are grateful to our partner @SamaritansPurse’s continued leadership at the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and so many other crises. They make our nation very proud. The United States recently signed a new global response partnership with Samaritan’s Purse and is finalizing an initial $3 million contribution for their work on Ebola in DRC. May god bless and protect those heading to the frontline.

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

At the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Sweden. Thankful for our great allies who've met their commitments to defense spending, proving that alliances are partnerships, not one way streets.