Точка Синхронізації

A Hong Kong court sentenced 78-year-old media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on Friday, following his conviction for national security offenses including sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The landmark sentencing took place in Hong Kong as part of a broader crackdown on dissent under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, aimed at neutralizing opposition to Chinese rule. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was found guilty of using his platform to solicit international sanctions against Chinese and local officials. The severity of the sentence has drawn immediate and sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and Lai’s own family members, who described the term as "heartbreakingly cruel." Given his advanced age and reports of declining health, there are growing concerns that the 20-year term effectively amounts to a life sentence, raising the possibility that one of Hong Kong’s most prominent critics may die while in custody. Supporters argue that the trial was a politically motivated sham designed to silence a powerful voice for civil liberties in the territory. Lai's conviction is centered on his role during the 2019 pro-democracy protests and his subsequent efforts to garner international support for the movement. Prosecutors alleged that his media empire served as a tool for foreign interference, a claim that Lai and his legal team have consistently denied. The case is seen by international observers as a bellwether for the future of press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong, once considered a bastion of liberal values in Asia. The global response has been swift, with Western governments and international media watchdogs urging for Lai's immediate release. However, authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong maintain that the proceedings were conducted in accordance with the law and are necessary to ensure stability. As Lai begins his lengthy sentence, the case remains a focal point of diplomatic tension between China and the West, highlighting the dramatic shift in Hong Kong’s political landscape over the last five years.