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What were Spavor and Kovrig doing in China?
On June 19, 2020, the men were formally charged with spying on national secrets and providing state secrets to entities outside of China. In the lead-up to the first high-level diplomatic talks between Chinese officials and American officials working for Joe Biden, Spavor and Kovrig’s trial dates were announced.
Why was Michael Kovrig detained in China?
The two men were detained on espionage charges in China almost three years ago, in what was seen as retaliation by China for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of U.S. authorities.
What is Michael Spavor accused of?
A court in northeastern China, where Mr. Spavor has lived, sentenced him to 11 years in prison after declaring him guilty of spying, deepening a rift with Canada, which has condemned the case as political hostage-taking.
What happened with Huawei in Canada?
More than two years ago, Canadian police arrested Meng Wanzhou, an executive for Chinese tech giant Huawei, at the Vancouver International Airport. Since then, the case has resulted in heightened tensions between the two countries and strained diplomatic relations.
What did Spavor do?
Michael Peter Todd Spavor (born 1976) is a Canadian consultant who has worked extensively in North Korea. The arrest was widely interpreted as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. On August 10, 2021, Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison for espionage.
What was Meng Wanzhou charged with?
Meng was charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracies to commit bank and wire fraud.
Is Michael Kovrig married?
Vina Nadjibulla
Michael Kovrig/Spouse
What did Michael Spavor actually do?
Michael Peter Todd Spavor (born 1976) is a Canadian consultant who has worked extensively in North Korea. He is the director and founding member of Paektu Cultural Exchange, a NGO that facilitates sports, cultural, tourism and business exchanges involving North Korea.
Is Michael Spavor still in China?
Michael Spavor breaks silence after returning from China, says he’s ‘overjoyed’ to be home. Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians that were detained in China shortly after Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, says that he’s happy to be back home and reunited with his family.
Where is the Huawei executive now?
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou freed by Canada arrives home in China. A Chinese tech executive released after being detained in Canada for nearly three years has returned home. Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou flew to Shenzhen on Saturday evening, hours after two Canadians freed by China had gone back.
What are the 2 Michaels charged with in China?
Chinese state media remained silent, however, about the release of the two Michaels. Kovrig and Spavor had been held in separate Chinese prisons on vague charges of espionage and stealing state secrets, allegations for which China has not provided evidence. They were not given a bail hearing.
What is Meng Wanzhou citizenship?
Chinese
Hong Kong
Meng Wanzhou/Nationality
Chinese law used to detain Canadians gives Beijing authorities vast national security power. Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being held in China under a national security law that gives authorities almost unlimited power to accuse individuals of posing a threat to national security.
What do Kovrig and Spavor’s arrests mean?
The arrests of Kovrig and Spavor came days after the RCMP apprehended Meng while she was changing planes in Vancouver, in response to a request from the United States for her extradition to face charges of fraud and violating international sanctions against Iran.
Who are Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and why do they matter?
Who they are: Michael Kovrig is a former Canadian diplomat who was in China working as an analyst and researcher for a think tank called the International Crisis Group. Michael Spavor is an entrepreneur who has worked to promote business and cultural ties between North Korea and the West.
What happened to Michael Spavor in China?
China has convicted Michael Spavor and is still keeping Michael Kovrig in jail. The Canadians’ story so far – The Globe and Mail China has convicted Michael Spavor and is still keeping Michael Kovrig in jail.