A Canadian man, Michael Kovrig, who was detained by China for over 1,000 days, recently spoke out about his experience in captivity. He revealed that he was subjected to solitary confinement for nearly six months and endured up to nine hours of interrogation each day. This treatment, according to Kovrig, amounted to psychological torture, especially considering that U.N. guidelines recommend no more than 15 consecutive days of solitary confinement. He also mentioned missing the birth of his daughter and only meeting her for the first time when she was two-and-a-half years old. Kovrig described the conditions in his cell, where there was no daylight and he was only given three bowls of rice a day at one point.
Kovrig and another Canadian, Michael Spavor, were detained shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a top executive of Huawei, on a U.S. warrant. Both men were accused of spying. They were released in September 2021, the same day the U.S. dropped its extradition request for Meng. In response to Kovrig’s interview, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa stated that the two Canadians were suspected of activities endangering China’s national security and that the judicial process was conducted in strict accordance with the law.
Despite the hardships he faced, Kovrig recalled the joy of finally reuniting with his daughter after his release. He recounted moments of wonder and happiness while spending time with her. The release of Kovrig and Spavor came amidst strained bilateral relations between Canada and China, with recent trade disputes and tensions between the two countries.
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