GUILTY China - Michael Kovrig, former Canadian diplomat & Michael Spavor, espionage, Beijing, Dec 2018

[JerseyGirl]

News of Michael Kovrig’s disappearance came just hours before a Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer for Huawei Technologies, was due to appear in court for a bail hearing on U.S. charges related to alleged Iran sanctions violations.

Since her Dec. 1 arrest at Vancouver’s airport, Canadian authorities have stressed that the matter is legal, not political. But China views her arrest as a U.S. bid to gain trade war leverage and has warned of “severe consequences” if she is not released.

Although it is not clear whether there is a link between Meng’s case and Kovrig’s disappearance, the timing of his disappearance will no doubt complicate the standoff over the Huawei case.

Kovrig is a former Canadian diplomat posted to Beijing. Since February 2017, he has been working for the International Crisis Group, covering security issues across Northeast Asia. He frequently speaks to the news media, including The Washington Post, about his research.

Former Canadian diplomat’s detention in China adds new twist to Huawei executive’s arrest

 

[dotr]

Canadian government 'deeply concerned' as China detains ex-diplomat | CBC News
"Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig has been arrested and detained in China without explanation, the Canadian government confirmed Tuesday.

"Obviously we are aware of the situation of a Canadian detained in China," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his way into question period Tuesday. "We have been in direct contact with the Chinese diplomats and representatives. We are engaged on the file, which we take very seriously, and we are providing consular assistance to the family."

A written statement from Global Affairs Canada said that because of Canada's Privacy Act, no further information would be disclosed about the case of Kovrig, who until recently served as a Canadian diplomat in China.

Chinese officials have not given an official explanation for Kovrig's arrest"

"In 2014, the Canadian government accused China of hacking into government computer systems. A week later, Canadian Christian aid workers Kevin and Julia Garratt, who were running a small café in China, were detained and accused of spying. Julia was released in 2015 but Kevin was detained for two years before being found guilty and deported."

 

[JerseyGirl]

entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were both taken into custody separately on Monday. Kovrig is being held in Beijing and Spavor is being held in the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong, across the river from North Korea.

Missing Canadians being held by China amid spat over tech exec's arrest

Michael Kovrig

 

[JerseyGirl]

Pompeo Joins Trudeau in Decrying China’s Arrest of Canadians

 

[JerseyGirl]

Canada says 13 citizens detained in China since Huawei CFO arrest | Reuters

 

[JerseyGirl]

Huawei founder says CFO's arrest was politically motivated - Asean Plus | The Star Online

 

[JerseyGirl]

Huawei Exec Sues Canada, Argues December Arrest Violated Constitution

Huawei: Meng Wanzhou sues Canadian government over arrest

 

[YaYa_521]

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor mark 600 days in detention in China
BEIJING
PUBLISHED JULY 31, 2020UPDATED AUGUST 1, 2020

Less than two weeks after Chinese authorities formally charged two Canadians with espionage, Ambassador Dominic Barton travelled nearly 700 kilometres from Beijing, hoping to end a half year of being barred from seeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The unusual Canada Day trip brought Mr. Barton to Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province. Mr. Spavor has been held in the province since Chinese agents seized him and Mr. Kovrig on Dec. 10, 2018. Saturday will mark 600 days of detention for the men, who have been held in facilities where they are barred from seeing family – Mr. Kovrig in Beijing and Mr. Spavor in Dandong, the Liaoning city on the border with North Korea.

SNIP

The detention of the two men remains “a top priority for the government of Canada,” he said. “Canadian officials continue to raise with Chinese counterparts Canada’s request for immediate consular access to Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor – and all Canadians detained in China – in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.”

For Mr. Kovrig’s family, however, the 600th day of detention will arrive with a sense of uncertainty. If the government won’t intervene in the proceedings against Ms. Meng, what will it do?

“If the government does not agree with the proposal put forward by the 19 eminent Canadians, then the question becomes: What other avenues are being explored to secure the release of both Michaels?” Ms. Nadjibulla asked.

“That’s where we are now. The question is, ‘What happens next?‘”

 

[LovesPeace2]

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor mark 600 days in detention in China
BEIJING
PUBLISHED JULY 31, 2020UPDATED AUGUST 1, 2020

Less than two weeks after Chinese authorities formally charged two Canadians with espionage, Ambassador Dominic Barton travelled nearly 700 kilometres from Beijing, hoping to end a half year of being barred from seeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The unusual Canada Day trip brought Mr. Barton to Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province. Mr. Spavor has been held in the province since Chinese agents seized him and Mr. Kovrig on Dec. 10, 2018. Saturday will mark 600 days of detention for the men, who have been held in facilities where they are barred from seeing family – Mr. Kovrig in Beijing and Mr. Spavor in Dandong, the Liaoning city on the border with North Korea.

SNIP

The detention of the two men remains “a top priority for the government of Canada,” he said. “Canadian officials continue to raise with Chinese counterparts Canada’s request for immediate consular access to Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor – and all Canadians detained in China – in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.”

For Mr. Kovrig’s family, however, the 600th day of detention will arrive with a sense of uncertainty. If the government won’t intervene in the proceedings against Ms. Meng, what will it do?

“If the government does not agree with the proposal put forward by the 19 eminent Canadians, then the question becomes: What other avenues are being explored to secure the release of both Michaels?” Ms. Nadjibulla asked.

“That’s where we are now. The question is, ‘What happens next?‘”

I don’t know if there’s anything the Canadian government can do even if they released mrs Wanzhou there’s no guarantee they will release the Canadians . The Chinese haven’t been honest with us over the vaccine trial we were spose to partner with but the Chinese won’t release them. Honestly as a Canadian I wish we didn’t deal with them. It’s sad but I don’t think any of those Canadians are coming home just my opinion

 

[JerseyGirl]

Mr. Kovrig’s trial is to start Monday.

Canadians to Stand Trial in China for Spying: What We Know

 

[Sillybilly]

Michael Spavor’s trial ends without verdict, Canadian officials barred from attending

[...]

By noon, Spavor’s court hearing reportedly adjourned without a verdict, according to Reuters and multiple local reporters.

The Liaoning Dandong Intermediate People’s Court later said in a statement that it will announce the verdict at a later date. The court also said Spavor and defence lawyers attended the trial, which it said was behind closed doors because the case involves “state secrets.”

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trudeau Condemns Secret Trial of Canadian on Espionage Charges

 

[JerseyGirl]

China Puts 2nd Canadian On Trial For Espionage And Bars Spectators

 

[LadyL]

In a show of solidarity for two jailed Canadians, 28 diplomats from 26 countries turned up outside a Beijing courtroom on Monday as Michael Kovrig’s secret trial started.

Outside the Beijing courthouse on Monday, diplomats from countries including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Czech Republic, stood together to protest the secret trials.

The trial of Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years on espionage charges, wrapped up in a closed Beijing courtroom on Monday with the verdict to be announced at an unspecified later date, according to state media.

Spavor suffered a similar trial on Friday and is also awaiting the verdict.

'Eyes of the world' on China as Canadians Kovrig and Spavor put on closed trials in Beijing

 

[dotr]

Canadian Michael Kovrig tried in Beijing as Western nations protest

“Michael Kovrig has been detained for more than two years now. He's been arbitrarily detained and now we see that the court process itself is not transparent,” Nickel told reporters.

Nickel said 26 countries had sent representatives to show their support, including the U.S., the U.K, Australia and many European nations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau also thanked them all for their efforts.

“The eyes of the world are on these cases and proceedings,” he said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added his own condemnation via his committee's Twitter account Monday.

“It is reprehensible that (China) is holding trials in secret against Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,” he wrote on Twitter.

“China should stop taking hostages and instead uphold basic human rights and rule of law. Both men should be released immediately.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

Michael Spavor trial: China court sentences Canadian to 11 years for spying

 

[camrose]

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are currently on their way home from China, finally after over 1,000 days.

Canadian PM Trudeau says Kovrig, Spavor have left China | Politics News | Al Jazeera

 

[dotr]

Sept 25 2021