A Chinese court has closed the trial against Canadian Michael Spavor, who is suspected of espionage, behind closed doors.
China arrested businessman Spavor and another Canadian, former diplomat Michael Kovrig, in 2018. That happened after Canada had imprisoned top executive Meng Wanzhou of the Chinese concern Huawei. That tech company is suspected of violating US sanctions against Iran, and the United States has asked for her extradition.
The Chinese authorities insist there is no connection between the cases, but Canada says there was no legitimate reason to arrest the ‘two Michaels’. A Canadian initiative against foreign citizens’ detention for diplomatic pressure gained the backing of the Netherlands and dozens of other countries last month.
Canadian diplomat Jim Nickel said out of court that the case against Spavor has now been closed. He said that it is unclear what exactly took place in the courtroom. “It has not been a transparent process,” said Nickel. The court announced in a written statement that the ruling would be announced later.
Canadian diplomats waved as a blinded police van drove away from the court. Spavor was probably in that. A dozen diplomats from countries such as the US, France and the United Kingdom had also gathered at the court. Canadian Nickel said he appreciated the international support.
His fellow countryman Kovrig is expected to appear in court following Monday. Like Spavor, he risks life imprisonment. In China, court cases almost always lead to a conviction.