Liu Xiaobo's 2009–2010 Trial, Sentencing, and Appeal

On December 10, 2009, the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate Branch No. 1 indicted Liu Xiaobo on a charge of “inciting subversion of state power.” The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court tried the case on December 23. [1][8]

On December 25, the court convicted Liu, finding that his publication of six articles on the Internet and his participation in drafting, collecting signatures for, and disseminating Charter 08 constituted “inciting subversion of state power.” He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment and two years' deprivation of political rights. [2][8]

Liu appealed on December 29. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China documented procedural concerns: the court rejected defense counsel's request for a postponement to prepare the case; Liu Xia and foreign diplomats were barred from attending; and no witnesses appeared in court, preventing the defense from cross-examining prosecution witnesses. [3]

The appellate ruling was dated February 9, 2010; the Beijing High People's Court announced its rejection of Liu's appeal and affirmation of the original judgment on February 11. [4]

Because the conviction was based in part on Liu's political writings and his role in drafting and disseminating Charter 08, the case also implicated freedom of expression; the procedural disputes concerning defense preparation, attendance at the trial, and witnesses raised fair-trial concerns.[3][5][8]