Canadian Michael Kovrig Describes ‘Psychological’ Torture During 1,000 Days of Chinese Detention

Michael Kovrig, one of two Canadian men detained in China for more than 1,000 days on espionage charges, has opened up about the harrowing psychological torture he endured while in captivity. Kovrig, a former diplomat, spent six months in solitary confinement under relentless interrogation, which he described as the most grueling experience of his life.

Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were arrested in 2018, at the height of a diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Ottawa. Their detention came shortly after Canadian authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s CFO, in Vancouver on U.S. fraud charges. Beijing has consistently denied that the arrests of the two Canadians were linked to Meng’s case.

Kovrig recalled the day of his arrest, describing how Chinese authorities seized him as he walked home with his pregnant partner. He was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to a padded cell, where he was held in isolation under constant fluorescent lights for six months. His days were marked by hours of interrogation, limited food, and a concerted effort by his captors to break his spirit.

“It was psychologically, absolutely, the most grueling, painful thing I’ve ever been through,” Kovrig told. During his captivity, he was subjected to up to nine hours of daily interrogation and was frequently locked in a chair for extended periods.

Despite the torment, Kovrig endured, and he was eventually released in September 2021 after nearly three years in detention, following a diplomatic agreement between the U.S., Canada, and China. Upon his return to Canada, Kovrig was reunited with his family, including his daughter, who was born while he was in prison. He described the moment as “the most fantastic, heartwarming feeling you can imagine.”

Chinese authorities maintain that Kovrig was involved in illegal activities and have rejected accusations of mistreatment. Kovrig’s account, however, sheds light on the psychological tactics used during his prolonged detention.