Canadian's Harrowing 1,000-Day Detention: A Journey of Solitary Confinement and Psychological Torture

Michael Kovrig, a Canadian detained in China for over 1,000 days, described his harrowing experience of solitary confinement and psychological torture to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He was arrested in 2018 along with fellow Canadian Michael Spavor. Their detention came after Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's arrest in Canada. Kovrig recounts missing his daughter's birth and enduring painful conditions until his release in 2021.

Michael Kovrig, a Canadian man held in China for more than 1,000 days, has described his experience as psychological torture, highlighting months of solitary confinement and daily interrogations lasting up to nine hours. Speaking to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Kovrig revealed he missed the birth of his daughter and only met her when she was two-and-a-half years old.

Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were detained in December 2018 after Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's CFO, was arrested on a U.S. warrant. Accused of spying, both men were released in September 2021, the same day the U.S. dropped its extradition request for Meng. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa claimed the detentions were in line with Chinese law.

Kovrig described the brutal conditions, including six months of solitary confinement without daylight and minimal food. He recounted the emotional pain of missing significant moments with his family, yet found solace in their eventual reunion. Despite his release, ties between China and Canada remain tense, exacerbated by recent trade disputes.

(With inputs from agencies.)