Michael Kovrig: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[Detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig#Michael Kovrig]] |
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'''Michael Kovrig''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] former diplomat who worked for the [[International Crisis Group]], a transnational, pro-peace think tank. After being detained in December 2018, he was accused of [[espionage]] by the Chinese government in May 2019, and his arrest is thought by some press outlets to be retaliation for the arrest of [[Huawei]] executive [[Meng Wanzhou]] on December 1, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/no-visitors-for-michael-kovrig-and-michael-spavor-because-of-covid-19-as-500th-day-in-chinese-prison-nears|title=No visitors for Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor due to COVID-19 as 500th day in Chinese prison nears {{!}} National Post|last=News|date=2020-04-18|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/17/china-is-holding-two-canadians-hostages-its-not-even-denying-it/|title=Opinion {{!}} China is holding two Canadians as hostages. It’s not even denying it.|last=Clarke|first=Donald|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> Kovrig's arrest has become a recent point of contention for [[Canada–China relations|Canada-China relations]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/05/justin-trudeau-china-canada-beijing|title=Canada: Trudeau accuses China of using 'arbitrary detentions' for political ends|date=2019-09-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-29|last2=agencies|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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== History == |
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In his early years, Kovrig attended [[Royal St. George's College]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=RSGC Alumni Association |title=Michael Kovrig '89 is a former Canadian diplomat working as the Senior Advisor, North East Asia for the International Crisis Group. He has been detained in China, without offence, since December 2018. On behalf of the entire Georgian community, we pray for his health, safety and his safe return home. He is in our thoughts. We call on the Government of Canada to bring all of its resources to secure the release of Michael and Michael Spavor. |url=https://www.facebook.com/RSGCAA/posts/3812366805456639 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref> Kovrig graduated from [[Columbia University]] with a master's degree in international affairs and is fluent in [[Mandarin Chinese]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/michael-kovrig|title=Michael Kovrig|date=2017-02-20|website=Crisis Group|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> and worked for a time after graduation at the [[United Nations]] Development Programme in New York City and in [[Kabul|Kabul, Afghanistan]].<ref name="crisis">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/michael-kovrig|title=Michael Kovrig|date=2017-02-20|website=Crisis Group|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> |
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From 2010 to 2016, Kovrig worked for Canada's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], and was stationed in [[Hong Kong]] and Beijing from 2012-2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46527975|title=Canadian ex-diplomat 'held in China'|date=2018-12-12|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-29|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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=== Arrest and captivity === |
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{{also|Michael Spavor}} |
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Kovrig joined the International Crisis Group in February 2017 as a senior advisor to North East Asia.<ref name="crisis"/> On 10 December 2018, Michael Kovrig was detained in [[Beijing]] around the same time as [[Michael Spavor]], a Canadian consultant with a personal relationship with [[Kim Jong-un|Kim Jong-Un]] and a history of working with [[North Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/detention-crisis-group-senior-adviser|title=Detention of Michael Kovrig|date=2018-12-12|website=Crisis Group|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called his arrest "arbitrary."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/05/justin-trudeau-china-canada-beijing|title=Canada: Trudeau accuses China of using 'arbitrary detentions' for political ends|date=2019-09-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-29|last2=agencies|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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On 21 January 2019, more than 220 prominent political and academic individuals signed a letter calling on China to release Kovrig and Spavor.<ref name=xiletter>{{Cite news|publisher= The Globe and Mail Inc|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-mr-xi-release-these-two-canadian-citizens/|title=Mr. Xi, release these two Canadian citizens|date=21 January 2019|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> |
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In March 2020, amidst the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] pandemic, Kovrig was permitted by his captors to have a telephone conversation with his sick father.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6672282/michael-kovrig-phone-call-coronavirus/|title=Michael Kovrig granted phone call by China with ill father amid coronavirus pandemic|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> On April 23, 2020, the 500th day of Kovrig's captivity, Trudeau said consular services for detained Canadians were not currently available on account of the coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3081324/coronavirus-justin-trudeau-confirms-china-blocked|title=Held for 500 days: Trudeau confirms China blocking visits to Canadian duo|date=2020-04-24|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> |
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== References == |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovrig, Michael}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovrig, Michael}} |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Canadian diplomats]] |
[[Category:Canadian diplomats]] |
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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:15, 4 April 2024
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