PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Chinese rights lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, is given suspended prison sentence
One of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers was given a suspended prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of two charges in connection with his provocative online criticism of the government. The sentence — three years in prison, with a three-year reprieve — meant that Mr. Pu, 50, would go free, but that his law career was over, one of his lawyers said. NEW YORK TIMES

Ukrainian nationalists call for release of journalist murder suspects
Thousands of Ukrainian nationalists took to the streets of the Ukrainian capital on Saturday to call for the release of Andrei Medvedko and Denis Polishchuk, who stand accused of murdering opposition journalist Oles Buzina. The protest was organized by a range of Ukrainian far-right and nationalist groups. Buzina, who was known for his pro-Russian views and had received numerous death threats prior to his murder, was shot dead on Apr. 16 in front of his apartment in Kiev. RT

Russian activist facing protest charges flees to Ukraine
Russian opposition activist who became the first person charged under a strict new protest law has reportedly fled to neighboring Ukraine, where he will seek political asylum. Vladimir Ionov, 76, was set to deliver his final statement to a Moscow court this week in his trial on charges of attending more than two unauthorized public events during a six-month period, which under legislation enacted last year can result in up to five years in prison. RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY

Arguments in Bangladeshi blogger murder case to open *PEN Case List
Six of the accused have made either written or verbal statements, while another has given both, and yet another remains on the run. Public Prosecutor Mahbubur Rahman said, “The judge has said he’ll try to deliver the verdict in the case within this month.” Rajib Haider, a blogger, activist, and an architect by profession, was hacked to death on Feb. 15, 2013 near his house in Dhaka. BDNEWS24

U.S. ‘deeply concerned’ by arrest of Vietnam rights activist
The U.S. on Monday called on Hanoi to release all prisoners of conscience. Rights activist Nguyen Van Dai, who was badly beaten this month by unknown attackers, was arrested last week for anti-state “propaganda,” the latest incident in what rights groups are calling an alarming crackdown on government critics. “We’re deeply concerned by the arrest of human rights advocate Nguyen Van Dai under national security-related article 88 of Vietnam’s penal code,” U.S. State Department Spokesman John Kirby told a regular news briefing. NEWSWEEK

Thai protester deprived of fresh air for five days in small room
An anti-coup activist who was whisked away from hospital and detained in a secret cell for five days said his room had no view to the outside world and poor ventilation. Thanet Anantawong, 25, who is facing a charge of sedition for views expressed on social media, said he was blindfolded after this arrest and taken by men wearing motorcycle helmets by car to an undisclosed location. He was granted bail and released on Friday. KHAOSOD ENGLISH

Journalist working in Bangladeshi capital missing; wife files complaint
The Dhaka Medical College Hospital correspondent of a daily and several TV stations, Aurangajeb Sajib, is missing, according to a complaint his wife has filed with the police. The complaint says Sajib left his house in Old Dhaka on Sunday on his motorcycle, which was found with the key on it in the spot where he parked it regularly. BDNEWS24

‘They can’t kill an idea’: An activist’s letter from jail in Egypt
Activist and surgeon Ahmed Said was jailed in November after taking part in a peaceful protest to commemorate people who died during Egypt’s 2011 uprising. From prison, he has written a letter to the outside world. “They believe that by eradicating the people who believe in an idea, they can kill the idea itself.” AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL