China frees Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig after Huawei boss release
MAGE SOURCE,AFP
image captionMichael Kovrig (r) and Michael Spavor have been held since 2018
Two Canadian nationals have been released from Chinese detention and are flying home to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced.
Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were accused of espionage in 2018, days after Canadian police arrested a top Chinese tech executive on a US warrant.
The Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, left Canada earlier today after a deal with US prosecutors.
The detentions have sparked years of diplomatic tensions.
At a news conference, Mr Trudeau said the men had been through "an unbelievably difficult ordeal."
"It is good news for all of us that they are on their way home to their families," he added. "For the past 1,000 days, they have shown strength, perseverance, resilience and grace."
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The prime minister said both men will arrive in Canada early on Saturday. They are being accompanied by Dominic Barton, Canada's ambassador to China.
Mr Kovrig is a former diplomat employed by International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.
Mr Spavor is a founding member of an organisation that facilitates international business and cultural ties with North Korea.
The pair were arrested on spying charges, and in August this year a Chinese court sentenced Mr Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage. There had been no decision in Mr Kovrig's case.
Critics have accused China of detaining them in retaliation for the arrest of Ms Meng, and using them as political bargaining chips. Beijing denied this and insisted the charges were legitimate.
Earlier on Friday, a Canadian judge ordered the release of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's former chief financial officer, after she reached a deal with US prosecutors over fraud charges against her.
"Over the past three years my life has been turned upside down," she told reporters outside the Vancouver courthouse.
"Every cloud has a silver lining," she continued. "I will never forget all the good wishes I received from people around the world."
China frees Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig after Huawei boss release
MAGE SOURCE,AFP image captionMichael Kovrig (r) and Michael Spavor have been held since 2018 Two Canadian nationals have been released from Chinese detention and are flying home to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced. Michael Spa