China on Tuesday dismissed as “lies and slander” accusations of psychological torture made by a former Canadian diplomat, who was detained in the Asian country amid tensions with Canada.
A former diplomat based in Beijing, Michael Kovrig worked as an advisor for the International Crisis Group think tank until his arrest on December 10, 2018.
He had been accused of espionage, like his compatriot Michael Spavor, a specialist on North Korea. Both were imprisoned for nearly three years.
Their almost simultaneous arrest at the end of 2018 coincided with that in Canada of Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the boss of the Chinese group Huawei, at the request of the United States.
The two Canadians, just like Mr.me Meng, were released in September 2021 and were able to return to their respective countries, after the end of a long diplomatic and judicial saga.
“The UN standard is not to exceed 15 days of isolation. Beyond that, it is considered psychological torture. I stayed there for almost six months,” Michael Kovrig told Canadian public broadcaster CBC on Monday.
Psychologically, this treatment in detention was “the most exhausting and painful thing I have ever experienced,” he said.
Asked about these remarks, a spokesman for Chinese diplomacy, Lin Jian, condemned them.
“Lies and slander cannot change the fact that the person you mentioned has broken the law” of China, he said.
China “advises the person in question to respect facts and reflect on his mistakes,” the spokesperson added.
Michael Kovrig was held in a cell measuring less than 10 m2according to press reports.
In the six months since their arrest, Mr Kovrig and Mr Spavor have endured hours of interrogation and been forced to sleep with the lights on, several people familiar with the case have told AFP.
Michael Spavor last year blamed Michael Kovrig, to whom he provided information on North Korea without knowing it would be shared with Canada and its intelligence partners, for being behind their incarceration.