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☆ Canadian detained by China says he experienced psychological torture
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

OTTAWA, Ontario — A Canadian man detained by China for more than 1,000 days said he was put into solitary confinement for months and interrogated for up to nine hours every day, treatment he said amounted to psychological torture. Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were taken into custody in December 2018 shortly after Canadian police detained Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, on a U.S. warrant. Kovrig noted that U.N. guidelines say prisoners should not be put into solitary confinement for more than 15 days in a row. Kovrig said there was no daylight in the solitary cell, where the fluorescent lights were kept on 24 hours a day. “It’s a combination of solitary confinement, total isolation and relentless interrogation for six to nine hours every day,” he said.

Persons: Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Wanzhou, “, ” Kovrig, Spavor, Kovrig, ”, Meng, “ I’ll, ’ ” Organizations: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian, Huawei, U.S . Justice Department, Embassy, Ottawa Locations: OTTAWA, Ontario, China, Ottawa, rapeseed, Canada

☆ Michael Kovrig: Canadian held for more than 1,000 days describes ‘psychological’ torture in Chinese detention
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Kovrig and Spavor were only freed after US prosecutors dropped the extradition request and agreed to release Meng, nearly two years later. Chinese officials did not publicly disclose any evidence against Spavor or Kovrig, or detailed information relating to their trials, which were held behind closed doors. Michael Kovrig embraces his separated wife Vina Nadjibulla after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, on September 25, 2021. You are going to be interrogated,’” Kovrig said. After six months, Kovrig said he was moved to a larger cell with plexiglass windows, which he shared with a dozen cellmates.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Michael Kovrig, Michaels, ” Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Kovrig, “, ‘ That’s, ’ ”, Meng Wanzhou, Meng, Michael Kovrig, Vina Nadjibulla, Frank Gunn, ’ ” Kovrig, “ I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CBC News, International, Group, Huawei, Pearson International Airport, “, CNN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Ottawa, Canadian, North Korea, Vancouver, Toronto

But none have stepped up to condemn India for its alleged involvement in the June slaying on Canadian soil of a Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. All that makes it hard for Canada's main allies — which are also some of India's main partners — to loudly speak out. The government’s allegations are particularly awkward now for the U.K., which is seeking a free trade deal with India. In 2018, for example, China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor. Now the stakes are higher, and it's unclear — at least publicly — who Canada can count on for full-throated support.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, —, They’ve, Hardeep Singh, Janice Stein, Sushant Singh, ”, Trudeau, India ramped, — Trudeau, Rishi Sunak’s, Max Blain, ” Trudeau, Sunak, Joe Biden, Mélanie Joly, John Kirby, “, Kirby, Biden, Robert Bothwell, Narendra Modi's, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Nijjar, Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Wanzhou, Meng, Donald Trump, Trump, Bothwell Organizations: TORONTO, Canadian, Munk School of Global Affairs, Policy Research, Canada, Canada’s The Globe, Mail, British, Canadian Foreign, White House, University of Toronto, Indian, Nijjar, White, Huawei, U.S, “ Locations: India, U.S, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Germany, Toronto, New Delhi, West, Vancouver, Canada, Indian, Canadian, Canada’s The, South Asia, Pacific, Ottawa, Washington, Russia, Surrey, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, “, British

CNN —Canada’s former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has accused China of targeting him with misinformation and voter suppression campaigns during the 2021 election, citing intelligence from Canada’s spy agency. Canadian Security Intelligence Service last week identified multiple threats against him, O’Toole told Parliament on Tuesday. O’Toole emphasized that alleged misinformation occurred in the run-up to the 2021 general election, which saw the reelection of a Liberal Party government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Earlier this month, Canada expelled an accredited Chinese diplomat accused of involvement in a harassment campaign against Canadian opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives. China has repeatedly dismissed previous claims of political interference in Canada’s political system.

Persons: CNN —, Erin O’Toole, O’Toole, ”, Justin Trudeau, Michael Chong, Chong, Marco Mendicino, Mendicino, Meng Wanzhou, Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Organizations: CNN, Conservative Party, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Liberal Party, Huawei, Canadian Public Safety, CSIS, ” Locations: China, Canada, Canadian, Beijing

☆ China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A 78-year-old American citizen has been sentenced to life in prison by a Chinese court on spying charges. Leung was detained on April 15, 2021 by state security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, according to the brief statement, which did not provide details on his charges. Chinese authorities and state media have not previously disclosed any information on Leung’s detention or the court process that led to his conviction. In China, cases involving state security are usually handled behind closed doors. In another high-profile case, two Canadians – former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor – were detained by China for nearly three years.

The revision is likely to heighten concerns of foreign individuals, such as academic researchers or journalists, and businesses about visiting or operating in China. “Something like a local government budget you could broadly define as relating to national security, or even food security,” he said. “Researchers definitely need to be careful.”China says its laws related to national security and espionage are meant to safeguard the country. “Even with this amendment we still don’t understand what kind of document constitutes a national security issue,” he added. Chinese authorities did not offer details about both cases, including the reason for the crackdown, but analysts say the move is likely to further spook foreign businesses operating in China.

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