Zach Crawford
(ANSA) – Washington, Sept. 24 – Two Canadian nationals detained in China since 2018, Michael Kovrig and Michel Spavor, have been released from Beijing and are about to return home. This is just hours after the US reached an agreement to release Ms Meng Wanzhou, Ms. Huawei, who will in turn return to China.
“Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been held in China since 2018, have been released and will return to Canada,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced shortly after Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou left Canada for China following the liberation in Vancouver.
“A few minutes ago, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor left Chinese airspace to fly home,” Trudeau said at a news conference. He added, “These two men have gone through a horrific ordeal for over 1,000 days. They have demonstrated determination and resilience on a daily basis and are an inspiration to all of us.” “Given that this is a process that is currently underway – I can’t share more details,” he concluded.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in December 2018 in China on spying charges, causing an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing. Canada considered their arrest a retaliatory measure after the arrest of Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. The latter, under house arrest in Canada for nearly three years, left for China a few hours ago, immediately after his release under an agreement with the United States. (Dealing).
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