A/HRC/45/36 Federation national and Vice Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of KGL Investment Company (KGLI), was presented to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by her legal team. She had been accused of criminal activity relating to services KGLI provided to the Kuwait Port Authority and concerns about the lack of fair trial guarantees provided to her were raised by the Special Rapporteur (KWT 4/2019). 67. On 18 October 2019, the Government responded in detail to the Special Rapporteur stating that the allegations of the lack of fair trial guarantees in multiple cases associated with Ms. Lazareva are not correct, the case is still under consideration, and that Ms. Lazareva is currently not in custody. The Government denied allegations of reprisals against the international legal team, which it states has enjoyed cooperation with the Government and international bodies without hindrance. 52 On 22 July 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale in connection to the present report, reiterating its previous points and indicating that the press release of the Kuwait Port Authority, which was issued in response to those of the legal team, did not include any threats and was a reaction to statements and defamatory campaigns aiming to challenge the judicial system and to intimidate and obstruct the course of justice. 20. Lao People’s Democratic Republic 68. On 25 September 2019, special procedures mandate holders raised concern about the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Od Sayavong, a Lao refugee recognized by UNHCR living in Bangkok (LAO 2/2019). Mr. Sayavong is a former member of “Free Lao,” a group of Lao migrant workers and human rights defenders based in Thailand that advocates for human rights and democracy in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. On 15 March 2019, Mr. Sayavong met with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights in Bangkok, prior to his visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in March 2019, and that day posted on Facebook a photo of himself in front of the UN office in Bangkok. The mandate holders raised concerns that the cooperation of Mr. Sayavong with the Special Rapporteur may have possibly contributed to his alleged disappearance and, if this were the case, it may be considered an act of reprisal by Lao authorities.53 69. On 17 January 2020, the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic reported54 that it had immediately assigned the case to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had contacted the Government of Thailand through diplomatic channels for more information. The Government reported to have undertaken an investigation into the matter, including verifying information with the Lao Embassy in Thailand and visiting Mr. Sayavong’s family. The Government reported that it could not ascertain the activities nor whereabouts of Mr. Sayavong and denied any involvement in his alleged disappearance. It affirmed its readiness to cooperate with the international community on the matter. 21. Libya 70. During the reporting period, OHCHR received multiple allegations of reprisals against human rights defenders and journalists from Libya, including for their engagement with the UN. Names and details of those affected cannot be provided for fear of further reprisals. In January, the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the ability of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to monitor and verify alleged violations was “limited by insecurity and access constraints to locations and institutions where human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law had reportedly been committed,” which may have impacted the full reporting of violations actually committed (A/HRC/43/75, para. 13). 71. In particular, the High Commissioner reported severe limits of UNSMIL/OHCHR to access detention facilities stating that the Mission was unable to visit prisons under the 52 53 54 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34926. OHCHR, “Thailand/Lao PDR: UN experts concerned by disappearance of Lao human rights defender” (1 October 2019), https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25087&LangID=E. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35121. 33