{ "title": "Incidents: secrets and espionage laws, stage: eliminate", "canonical_url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents?tactic=secrets_and_espionage_laws&stage=eliminate", "filters": { "tactic": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "stage": "eliminate" }, "sort": "date", "count": 8, "page": 1, "pages": 1, "per_page": 50, "counts_caveat": "The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.", "facets": { "country": [ { "value": "CN", "label": "China", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 178, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "HK", "label": "Hong Kong", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 140, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "IR", "label": "Iran", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 177, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "MM", "label": "Myanmar", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 166, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 166th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "NG", "label": "Nigeria", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 112, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 112th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "KP", "label": "North Korea", "rsf": null }, { "value": "RU", "label": "Russia", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 172, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" } }, { "value": "VN", "label": "Viet Nam", "rsf": null } ], "continent": [ { "value": "africa", "label": "Africa" }, { "value": "asia", "label": "Asia" }, { "value": "europe", "label": "Europe" } ], "tactic": [ { "value": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "label": "Secrets and espionage laws", "count": 8 }, { "value": "detention_and_violence", "label": "Detention and violence", "count": 3 }, { "value": "outlet_licensing", "label": "Licensing and closure of outlets", "count": 1 } ], "stage": [ { "value": "eliminate", "label": "Eliminate", "count": 8 } ], "level": [ { "value": "national", "label": "National", "count": 7 }, { "value": "state_or_province", "label": "State or province", "count": 1 } ], "outcome": [ { "value": "ongoing", "label": "Ongoing", "count": 3 }, { "value": "reversed", "label": "Reversed", "count": 3 }, { "value": "sustained", "label": "Sustained", "count": 2 } ], "leader": [ { "value": "aung-san-suu-kyi", "label": "Aung San Suu Kyi" }, { "value": "ebrahim-raisi", "label": "Ebrahim Raisi" }, { "value": "john-lee", "label": "John Lee" }, { "value": "kim-jong-il", "label": "Kim Jong Il" }, { "value": "nguyen-xuan-phuc", "label": "Nguyen Xuan Phuc" }, { "value": "sani-abacha", "label": "Sani Abacha" }, { "value": "vladimir-putin", "label": "Vladimir Putin" }, { "value": "xi-jinping", "label": "Xi Jinping" } ], "era": [ { "value": "2020s", "label": "2020s", "count": 5 }, { "value": "2010s", "label": "2010s", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2000s", "label": "2000s", "count": 1 }, { "value": "1990s", "label": "1990s", "count": 1 } ], "year": [ { "value": "1995", "label": "1995", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2009", "label": "2009", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2018", "label": "2018", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 1 }, { "value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 2 }, { "value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 1 } ], "has_case": [ { "value": "0", "label": "without a court case", "count": 8 } ] }, "results": [ { "slug": "2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law", "title": "China (Hong Kong): conviction and 20-year sentence of the media owner Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law, 2025 to 2026", "occurred_on": "2025-12-15", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "HK", "country_name": "Hong Kong", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "HK", "level": "state_or_province", "tactic_primary": "detention_and_violence", "tactics": [ "detention_and_violence", "outlet_licensing", "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "john-lee", "leader_name": "John Lee", "issue_of_the_day": null, "outcome": "sustained", "outcome_on": "2026-02-08", "outcome_note": "Sentenced to 20 years in prison on 2026-02-08; no appeal is recorded in the sources cited.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": null, "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 140, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "2020s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "in_effect", "case_count": 0, "summary": "On December 15, 2025, the High Court of Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China with its own courts, convicted Jimmy Lai, founder of the newspaper Apple Daily, on two counts of \"conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces\" under the National Security Law, which China's central government imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, and one count of \"conspiracy to publish seditious publications.\" On February 8, 2026, the court sentenced Lai to 20 years in prison. Apple Daily shut down in June 2021 after its accounts were frozen and much of its top leadership was arrested. Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, called the charges \"bogus.\"", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2025-hong-kong-convicts-jimmy-lai-under-national-security-law" }, { "slug": "2024-china-dong-yuyu-espionage-sentence", "title": "China: editor Dong Yuyu is sentenced to seven years for espionage over meals with a diplomat", "occurred_on": "2024-11-01", "occurred_on_precision": "month", "country": "CN", "country_name": "China", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "CN", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "xi-jinping", "leader_name": "Xi Jinping", "issue_of_the_day": "Dong had worked at Guangming Daily, a state-run Chinese newspaper, since 1987 and was known for commentary that engaged with foreign diplomats and officials as part of his beat.", "outcome": "ongoing", "outcome_on": "2024-11-01", "outcome_note": "Dong's appeal remained pending before the Beijing High Court as of the September 2025 report reviewed, with its deadline repeatedly extended.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "A veteran editor received a seven-year espionage sentence for meeting a foreign diplomat over lunch, a routine journalistic contact rather than any published disclosure.", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 178, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 178th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "2020s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "in_effect", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A Chinese court sentenced Guangming Daily editor and columnist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison for espionage after his 2022 arrest while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat, a case his son called purely political.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-china-dong-yuyu-espionage-sentence" }, { "slug": "2024-iran-hamedi-mohammadi-sentenced", "title": "Iran: journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi are sentenced to 13 and 12 years", "occurred_on": "2024-01-17", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "IR", "country_name": "Iran", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "IR", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "ebrahim-raisi", "leader_name": "Ebrahim Raisi", "issue_of_the_day": "Hamedi and Mohammadi had reported on the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after being held by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's mandatory dress code, reporting that helped ignite months of nationwide protests.", "outcome": "ongoing", "outcome_on": "2024-01-17", "outcome_note": "The two journalists were released on bail of about 200,000 dollars in January 2024 but remained banned from leaving the country.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "Two journalists received sentences of 12 and 13 years for reporting a death in state custody, far beyond a license, credential or access restriction.", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 177, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "2020s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "in_effect", "case_count": 0, "summary": "Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who broke the story of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, were sentenced to 13 and 12 years respectively on national-security-linked charges tied to their reporting, and later released on heavy bail.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-iran-hamedi-mohammadi-sentenced" }, { "slug": "2022-russia-safronov-treason-sentence", "title": "Russia: journalist Ivan Safronov is sentenced to 22 years for treason", "occurred_on": "2022-09-05", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "RU", "country_name": "Russia", "continent": "europe", "jurisdiction": "RU", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "vladimir-putin", "leader_name": "Vladimir Putin", "issue_of_the_day": "Safronov had reported for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti on Russian military affairs, including 2019 coverage of a planned sale of fighter jets to Egypt, before taking a communications role at Russia's space agency.", "outcome": "ongoing", "outcome_on": "2022-09-05", "outcome_note": "Safronov received a 22-year sentence and planned to appeal; the source reviewed does not report a ruling on any appeal.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "A journalist received a 22-year sentence for treason in a case linked to his own earlier reporting, far longer than any credential, licensing or fine-based restriction.", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 172, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "2020s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "in_effect", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A Russian court sentenced military correspondent Ivan Safronov to 22 years in prison for treason, accusing him of spying for a foreign state, in a case his supporters linked to his 2019 reporting on Russian arms sales to Egypt.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2022-russia-safronov-treason-sentence" }, { "slug": "2021-vietnam-pham-doan-trang-nine-year-sentence", "title": "Vietnam: journalist Pham Doan Trang is sentenced to nine years for anti-state \"propaganda\"", "occurred_on": "2021-12-14", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "VN", "country_name": "Viet Nam", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "VN", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "nguyen-xuan-phuc", "leader_name": "Nguyen Xuan Phuc", "issue_of_the_day": "Trang had spent years writing and publishing independent reporting and commentary critical of the ruling Communist Party before her arrest, work for which she had already received international press freedom recognition.", "outcome": "sustained", "outcome_on": "2021-12-14", "outcome_note": "Trang's nine-year sentence stood as of the source reviewed, with no release reported in it.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "An independent editor received a nine-year sentence under a national-security speech law for her journalism, not a licensing or credential dispute.", "rsf": null, "era": "2020s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "in_effect", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A Vietnamese court sentenced Pham Doan Trang, founding editor of the independent outlet The Vietnamese, to nine years in prison for distributing anti-state \"propaganda\" under a national-security provision of the country's penal code.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-vietnam-pham-doan-trang-nine-year-sentence" }, { "slug": "2018-myanmar-reuters-journalists-official-secrets-act", "title": "Myanmar sentences two Reuters journalists to seven years under the Official Secrets Act for reporting on a massacre", "occurred_on": "2018-09-03", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "MM", "country_name": "Myanmar", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "MM", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "detention_and_violence", "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "aung-san-suu-kyi", "leader_name": "Aung San Suu Kyi", "issue_of_the_day": "The Reuters investigation into the killing of ten Rohingya Muslim men and boys by Myanmar soldiers and local residents in Inn Din village, Rakhine State, in September 2017.", "outcome": "reversed", "outcome_on": "2019-05-07", "outcome_note": "President Win Myint pardoned and released Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo on May 7, 2019, after 511 days in prison, as part of a mass amnesty.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "Both reporters were pardoned in May 2019 after 511 days in prison.", "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 166, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 166th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "2010s", "granularity": "anchor", "status": "historical", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A Myanmar court sentenced Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to seven years under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act after police handed them classified documents at a dinner shortly before their arrest, while they were investigating the killing of Rohingya Muslim villagers.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2018-myanmar-reuters-journalists-official-secrets-act" }, { "slug": "2009-north-korea-ling-lee-sentenced", "title": "North Korea: American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee are sentenced to hard labor", "occurred_on": "2009-06-08", "occurred_on_precision": "day", "country": "KP", "country_name": "North Korea", "continent": "asia", "jurisdiction": "KP", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "secrets_and_espionage_laws", "tactics": [ "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "kim-jong-il", "leader_name": "Kim Jong Il", "issue_of_the_day": "Ling and Lee had been reporting near the China-North Korea border for the American outlet Current TV when they were detained by North Korean border guards in March 2009.", "outcome": "reversed", "outcome_on": "2009-08-04", "outcome_note": "North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pardoned Ling and Lee after former President Bill Clinton traveled to Pyongyang to secure their release.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": "Two foreign journalists received a twenty-year hard-labor sentence for a border charge, resolved only by a former head of state's personal visit to the country's leader.", "rsf": null, "era": "2000s", "granularity": "granular", "status": "historical", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A North Korean court sentenced Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to twenty years of \"reform through hard labor\" after their arrest for crossing the border from China without authorization, and both were released months later following a visit by former President Bill Clinton.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2009-north-korea-ling-lee-sentenced" }, { "slug": "1995-nigeria-abacha-journalists-tribunal", "title": "Nigeria's military government convicts journalists by special tribunal over coup-plot reporting", "occurred_on": "1995-07-27", "occurred_on_precision": "month", "country": "NG", "country_name": "Nigeria", "continent": "africa", "jurisdiction": "NG", "level": "national", "tactic_primary": "detention_and_violence", "tactics": [ "detention_and_violence", "secrets_and_espionage_laws" ], "leader_slug": "sani-abacha", "leader_name": "Sani Abacha", "issue_of_the_day": "An alleged March 1995 coup plot against General Sani Abacha's military government, which the journalists had reported on.", "outcome": "reversed", "outcome_on": "1998-06-15", "outcome_note": "The journalists were released in stages after General Abacha's death in June 1998 under his successor's government; their convictions were not vacated in the sources reviewed.", "stage": "eliminate", "ladder_note": null, "rsf": { "index": "RSF World Press Freedom Index", "year": 2026, "rank": 112, "of": 180, "label": "RSF 2026 rank: 112th of 180", "source_url": "https://rsf.org/en/index" }, "era": "1990s", "granularity": "anchor", "status": "historical", "case_count": 0, "summary": "A special military tribunal convicted four Nigerian journalists as accessories to a supposed 1995 coup plot after they reported on it, sentencing them to lengthy prison terms with no right of appeal, under the military government of General Sani Abacha.", "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1995-nigeria-abacha-journalists-tribunal" } ], "downloads": { "csv": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents?tactic=secrets_and_espionage_laws&stage=eliminate&format=csv", "json": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents.json?tactic=secrets_and_espionage_laws&stage=eliminate", "md": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents.md?tactic=secrets_and_espionage_laws&stage=eliminate" }, "license": { "name": "CC BY 4.0", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" } }