Two years after being arrested, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor seem to have been “indicted and tried”, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. The two Canadians were arrested on December 10, 2018, days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, daughter of the founder of the Chinese colossus.
China said that Kovrig and Spavor were indicted on June 19 by the Beijing prosecutor’s office on “suspicion of spying for state secrets and intelligence and reiterated that their cases and Meng's were “different in nature," with Meng's being a “purely political incident.”
Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne issued a statement marking their two years of captivity, saying; “These two Canadians are an absolute priority for our government, and we will continue to work tirelessly to secure their immediate release and to stand up for them as a government and as Canadians."
“I am struck by the integrity and strength of character the two have shown as they endure immense hardship that would shake anyone’s faith in humanity," Champagne said.
The place where Kovrig and Spavor are being held is still unknown. Canadian diplomats have been unable to visit the two men from January to October due to coronavirus precautions, and virtual communication was not permitted.
