Nadjibulla’s husband, Michael Kovrig, has been detained in China for more than two years on allegations of espionage that the Chinese government refuses to explain and the Prime Minister of Canada says he is “made up” and politically motivated.
Over the years, Canada has tried in vain for patience, entreaties, and more recently coordinated pressure. Kovrig is detained in a Chinese prison, where Nadjibulla said he has shown remarkable resilience and determination.
“He inspires us to stay strong and remain ruthless in our efforts to get him out,” she told CNN in an interview this week. “That’s the word he used for us,” Stay ruthless, “and that’s what we need to do.”
Although the two broke up before Kovrig was arrested, Nadjibulla is still married to Kovrig and is a strong advocate for his release.
Political detention
Beijing alleges that Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who works for the International Crisis Group, “has been stealing sensitive information and intelligence from contacts in China since 2017,” while Spavor, a businessman with a focus on North Korea, is accused of providing information to Kovrig.
But most outside observers see the matter as politically motivated, and even China has linked the fate of the ‘two Michaels’ – as they are called in Canada – with that of Meng, the Huawei manager, who has a much more comfortable experience. has had. detention, allowed to live in her Vancouver home and travel within the city of Vancouver with security and a tracking device attached to her ankle.
Ottawa and Washington have denounced the use of the two men as “bargaining chips”. What happens to them may foreshadow China’s reflex in the years to come when it is faced with Western rules and laws that it will not obey.
After months of trying to find a solution through diplomatic channels, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become increasingly blunt, accusing China of engaging in “coercive diplomacy”. But while he’s been criticized by some Canadians for not doing more, his options for enforcing a release may be limited, with the solution China clearly wants – releasing Meng – more dependent on Washington than Ottawa.
“We have known since day one that … Michael’s fate and Michael Spavor’s are linked to a larger geopolitical dispute and we need to find a solution and that is the only way to bring Michael home,” said Nadjibulla.
She remains cautious about every word she says on the matter and in no way wants to jeopardize Kovrig’s quest for freedom. For months after the two men’s detention, their families remained silent in the belief that diplomatic negotiations would be successful to secure their release.
But as their cases dragged on, with the two men held in Chinese prisons under harsh and worsening conditions, this strategy has proved unsuccessful. In addition to access to both men’s trials this month, Canadian officials were denied access to their citizens for 10 months last year after China introduced new limits on prison visits due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In contrast, Meng has had dozens of hearings that were open to the public, the media and Chinese consular officials, as required by Canadian law. She also has a battery of lawyers working on her case in both the US and Canada, while both Canadians have attorneys from the Chinese government and have not been able to consult with legal counsel of their choice.
And while the ‘two Michaels’ have been largely cut off from the outside world, Meng has, in her own words, lived a relatively normal life in her multi-million dollar Vancouver home. Canada also recently confirmed that it had granted visas to her family to visit her there, and even allowed special exemptions from pandemic restrictions.
Nadjibulla said she last heard from her husband in a letter in January. He gets few privileges, even things that are taken for granted in Canadian prisons, such as exercise and fresh air.
“Michael describes the circumstances as difficult, they are almost monastic,” she said. “He gets to read books, which has been his consolation, that’s something we’ve argued very hard for, that he can access books and reading books is what keeps him going.”
Despite not being allowed outside, Nadjibulla added that Kovrig has committed to walking 7,000 steps a day through his cell.
Dig in
The Canadian ambassador to China returned to Ottawa in recent days to further consult with government ministers on Chinese policy as Beijing was hit by a new round of international sanctions – including by Canada – over the crackdown in Xinjiang.
Those sanctions were announced in conjunction with Washington, which has stepped up its advocacy of the “ two Michaels, ” which many Canadians say are being held as a result of US actions.
Canadian officials said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken raised the issue during a meeting with Chinese diplomats in Alaska last week, adding that the US agreed to “treat these two individuals as if they were US citizens.” .
Earlier this month, Trudeau said, “China needs to understand that it is not just two Canadians, but that respect for the rule of law and relations with a wide range of Western countries plays a role in the arbitrary detention and coercive measures. diplomacy they are doing. “
China doesn’t seem shocked though, and if anything is digging. The country’s embassy in Ottawa recently criticized the Canadian government for Meng’s arrest, insisting that the “two Michaels” were arrested for undermining national security.
“On the one hand, the Canadian side claims it upholds the rule of law, but on the other, it makes irresponsible comments regarding China’s handling of relevant cases in accordance with the law,” the embassy said in a statement.
“How hypocritical and arrogant! When it comes to arbitrary detention, Ms. Meng Wanzhou has been arbitrarily detained for over two years, despite not breaking any Canadian law. This is arbitrary detention in every sense of the word.”
Such rhetoric has raised the stakes for the men’s families. What could have been a troublesome bilateral dispute resolved within months has escalated into a major showdown that could play a role in reshaping China’s relations with the West in the coming years.
Nadjibulla believes the support of the Biden government could help give the two Canadians new impetus. But she is also realistic about the Chinese position and what it takes to reach a compromise that will satisfy both sides, especially now that Beijing is explicitly linking the matter to Meng’s.
“There are people who I know are working on this and I sincerely hope they see this moment and this development [of a trial] a reminder that real lives are at stake and that we must do everything we can to bring them home, ”she said.
And as relentless as the past two years have been for her, Nadjibulla said she always takes into account that Kovrig is all alone.
“It has been difficult for all of us, but nothing compared to what Michael has endured and he has done it with such dignity and character strength. His courage, his resilience, his ability to stay positive is what inspires me,” she said. “He fights for his life, for his freedom and it is an honor to be in his corner and continue that fight until the day he is released.”
CNN’s James Griffiths contributed from Hong Kong.