Posted at 9:08 PM, updated at 21:38
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Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in December 2018 (Photo: Getty Images)
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The two Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, detained in China since the end of 2018, have been released and are on their way to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday evening shortly after Huawei leader Meng Wanzhou left Canada for China.
“Twelve minutes ago, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor left Chinese airspace on their way home,” Trudeau said at a press conference.
“These two men went through a terrible ordeal for over 1,000 days. They have shown determination, grace, resilience at every step and they are an inspiration to all of us, ”he added.
“Since this is an operation currently underway, I cannot share details,” he told reporters.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in December 2018 in China for espionage, causing an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing.
Their detention was viewed by Canada as a retaliatory measure after the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States.
The latter, under house arrest in Canada for almost three years, flew to China on Friday evening, immediately after being released under an agreement with the United States.
To (re) read, the analyzes of François Normand:
Towards a warming of trade relations with China?
Let’s Avoid Putting Other Canadians at Risk in China
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