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Michael Kovrig describes his time in detention in China: ‘They were trying to crush my spirit’Speaking with Global News on Monday, former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig provided a timeline of his detention in China, which started when he was grabbed “out of the blue by about a dozen men in black” in December of 2018 while in Beijing. Kovrig said his captors intended to “crush” his spirit, and “gaslight” him...CanadaSep 23
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Michael Kovrig thanks Global News for telling his story while he was ‘sitting in a detention cell in China’Speaking in an interview with Global News reporter Jeff Semple, former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig offered his personal thanks to Jeff and his team for keeping his name in the minds of Canadians while he was “sitting in a detention cell in China.” Kovrig said he plans to personally thank everyone who advocated for his...CanadaSep 23
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‘Arbitrary Detention Initiative’ developed in wake of the 2 Michael’s detention in China, Joly saysForeign Minister Mélanie Joly said Monday when discussing the two Michael’s (Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor) detention in China that Canada has since developed the ‘Arbitrary Detention Initiative’ which has been signed by 75 countries. Joly says the initiative sends a “clear message to the world and to countries that don’t necessarily follow all the...CanadaSep 23
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Global National: Sept. 23Israel and Lebanon are moving one step closer to entering an all-out war, with Israel unleashing dozens of rockets into Lebanon, and Hezbollah firing back. The warning to civilians, and the precautions being taken in northern Israel as tensions escalate in the Middle East. It’s been three years since Michael Kovrig was finally released and...Global NationalSep 23
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Canada’s Joly visits China after years of diplomatic strainCanadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to Beijing on Friday at the invitation of China, after years of diplomatic strain between the two countries following the detention of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.CanadaJul 18
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Trudeau reiterates feds’ support for Michael Spavor amid reports legal dispute resolvedPrime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his continued support for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig at a Toronto news conference on Thursday, a day after Spavor’s lawyer said that his client’s legal dispute with the federal government has been “resolved.” Trudeau said that Canada has supported the two Michaels “from the very beginning” and that “the...CanadaMar 7
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Canada to pay settlements to the two Michaels, report saysThe federal government is preparing to hand over multimillion-dollar settlement packages to Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, as compensation for being incarcerated in Chinese prisons for nearly three years, according to reporting from the Globe and Mail. Abigail Bimman looks at how much could be paid out, and the potential lawsuit complicating the deal.Global NationalDec 27, 2023
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Canada ready to pay 2 Michaels settlement for China prison time, report findsThe Canadian government is willing to sign off on multi-million-dollar settlement packages for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig to compensate them for the nearly three years they spent in Chinese prisons, the Globe and Mail has reported, citing government sources.CanadaDec 26, 2023
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Canada’s Michael Spavor blames fellow prisoner for China arrest, report allegesA new bombshell revelation in the case of the Two Michaels — the Canadians detained in China for nearly three years, accused of spying. A new report from the Globe and Mail, citing unnamed sources, claims Michael Spavor is seeking a multimillion-dollar settlement from Ottawa claiming he was an unwitting victim, and blaming the Canadian...CanadaNov 19, 2023
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Warnings about China from intelligence agencies were ignored: O’TooleTestifying during a Procedure and House Affairs Committee meeting on Thursday, former MP and Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole called for safeguarding Canada’s democracy, adding when intelligence agencies warned of China’s foreign interference, they were ignored. “These warnings were ignored repeatedly until things came to a boil over the last few years with...CanadaOct 26, 2023
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‘It’s going to get worse’: What’s at stake with India-Canada diplomatic feudPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is alleging India violated Canadian sovereignty, stating Canada has a “credible” potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has called Trudeau’s allegation “absurd” and the diplomatic rift is only growing. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes...The West BlockSep 24, 2023
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The West Block: Sept. 24, 2023 | How India murder allegation feud affects Canada’s economy, foreign affairsPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is alleging India violated Canadian sovereignty, stating Canada has a “credible” potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has called Trudeau’s allegation “absurd” and the diplomatic rift is only growing. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes...The West BlockSep 24, 2023
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China is the ‘world’s bully:’ Manitoba senatorMarilou McPhedran, Manitoba senator and human rights lawyer, joins Mercedes Stephenson to talk about the detainment of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in China and why she signed a letter calling on the prime minister to invoke Magnitsky sanctions against some Chinese officials.CanadaJun 28, 2020
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Detained Canadian in China: Michael Kovrig’s wife speaks outMichael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been detained in China for over a year and a half. Vina Nadjibulla, Spavor’s wife, joins Mercedes Stephenson to talk about potential next steps to bring her husband and Michael Spavor home.CanadaJun 28, 2020
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Michael Kovrig’s wife says Canada ‘needs more leverage’ in fight for his releaseMichael Kovrig’s wife, Vina Nadjibulla, told The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson that Canada needs “more leverage” in its fight to secure the release of both Kovrig and Michael Spavor. She commented on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejecting calls for a possible prisoner swap, in which he said doing so would endanger other Canadians travelling abroad...CanadaJun 26, 2020
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Freeland ‘heartbroken and really angry’ with China’s charges against Michael Kovrig, Michael SpavorDeputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday that she was ‘heartbroken and really angry’ when she learned about China’s decision to lay formal charges against Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor who have been detained in China for over a year.CanadaJun 19, 2020
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Trudeau ‘disappointed’ by China’s charges against Michael Kovrig, Michael SpavorPrime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he is “disappointed” in China’s decision to formally lay charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, two Canadians in “arbitrary detention” in China for well over a year, on allegations of espionage. Trudeau says Canada will continue to advocate for their release.Jun 19, 2020
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Marking 1,000 days since Canadians Michael Spavor, Michael Kovrig detained in ChinaCanadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are marking 1,000 days of detainment in China. Their arrest is largely seen as retaliation to Canada’s arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. As Jeff Semple reports, many people believe a resolution to the Meng case is the only way to bring home the two Michaels.Global NationalSep 4, 2021
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Trudeau says government ‘will not rest’ until 2 Michaels are releasedPrime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Sunday that the government “will not rest” until Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are back in Canada, after they were detained in China in December 2018. Sunday marked 1,000 days of their detention.CanadaSep 5, 2021
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O’Toole discusses sanctions on China as 2 Michaels detained for 1,000 daysConservative Leader Erin O’Toole was asked about sanctions on China, as Sunday marked 1,000 days of detention for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. O’Toole said that sanctions would “be meant to highlight the fact that the ‘two Michaels’ are in prison as diplomatic pawns.”CanadaSep 5, 2021