27 December 2005

Alert

"New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan charged with leaking state secrets


Incident details

Zhao Yan

journalist(s)

charged
(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 December 2005 CPJ press release:

CHINA: New York Times researcher Zhao Yan charged with leaking state secrets

New York, December 23, 2005 - The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the indictment of New York Times researcher Zhao Yan on charges of leaking state secrets. Prosecutors notified Zhao's lawyers today of the charges, which could lead to a sentence of 10 years or more in prison, according to international news reports.

Zhao's lawyers have not seen the indictment and do not know the details of the charges. He is expected to stand trial within six weeks. Zhao has been imprisoned since September 2004, after The New York Times printed an article correctly predicting the retirement of Jiang Zemin from his post on the Central Military Commission. Zhao's New York Times colleagues have denied that he provided them with state secrets. Zhao has also been indicted on a lesser charge of fraud, according to news reports.

"This is an extremely disturbing development in a case that focuses world attention on China's atrocious treatment of the press," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "We deplore the prosecution of Zhao Yan, which is intended to stifle independent reporting on China's leadership. We call on the authorities to drop the prosecution and free Zhao immediately."

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org.



Source:

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Phone: +1 212 465 1004
Fax: +1 212 465 9568
 

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Updates to this story

No verdict in Zhao Yan trial as court ignores legal deadline 27 July 2006

More on this case

"New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan tried quickly behind closed doors, without witnesses appearing in court 19 June 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan indicted again 18 May 2006 Renewed judicial proceedings against detained researcher called "aberration" 19 April 2006 Charges dropped against journalist Zhao Yan of "The New York Times" 17 March 2006 Trials of Zhao Yan and Ching Cheong adjourned for lack of evidence 24 February 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan marks one year in custody 20 September 2005 New accusation extends jail time without trial for "New York Times" researcher 3 June 2005 CPJ calls for journalist Zhao Yan's release on six-month anniversary of his arrest 18 March 2005 "New York Times" researcher formally arrested 22 October 2004 CPJ protests journalist's detention 27 September 2004

China

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