Liu, an activist who runs a website circulating information on human rights abuses, was sentenced to five years in prison and severe fines in January 2019 after his initial 2016 detention. He spent over a year in prison without access to a lawyer. He was accused of “inciting subversion of State power” and fined approximately 150,000 USD. In July 2019, Liu’s appeal request was rejected. After having served his full sentece, Liu was released on November 17, 2021.
