Точка Синхронізації

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a formal press statement on February 9, 2026, condemning the Hong Kong High Court’s decision to sentence pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison as part of a broader crackdown on fundamental freedoms. The U.S. government characterized the sentencing as an unjust and tragic conclusion to a long-running legal battle, arguing that the move demonstrates Beijing’s willingness to ignore the international commitments it established under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Following years of detention and a trial spanning two years, the statement serves as a sharp diplomatic rebuke of China's legal maneuvers against political dissidents in the territory. According to the State Department, the case against Jimmy Lai illustrates the lengths to which the Chinese government will go to silence voices of opposition and those who champion civil liberties. Mr. Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, remains one of the most prominent figures in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The United States maintains that the harsh sentence is not only a violation of individual rights but also a signal that the specialized legal status and autonomy of Hong Kong have been severely compromised by mainland interference. In light of the fact that Mr. Lai has already spent more than five years in detention and faced a grueling judicial process, the U.S. government is now calling for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds. The statement emphasized the toll the legal saga has taken on Mr. Lai and his family, urging Hong Kong authorities to grant him humanitarian parole. This diplomatic pressure coincides with rising international concern over the erosion of the rule of law and the use of national security legislation to target journalists and activists in the region.