Kovrig stands accused of using an ordinary passport and business visa to enter China "to steal sensitive information and intelligence through contacts in China since 2017," the paper said. Spavor's charges rest on the allegation that he was "a key source of intelligence" for Kovrig, the paper said.
Kovrig and Spavor were detained days after the arrest of Huawei Technologies' chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, sparking criticism that the move was a form of "hostage diplomacy" on the part of Beijing.They stand accused of "stealing and illegally offering state secrets abroad," and are being held at an unknown location under "residential surveillance at a designated location." Neither has been allowed access to a lawyer, and they have had visits only from consular staff, which have been suspended since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
