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Researcher & writer based in Hong Kong. Former academic. Longform articles archived at https://lauraruggeri.substack.com and https://laura-ruggeri.medium.com. Email: lauraru852@yandex.ru
Auguro a tutti coloro che lo festeggiano un Natale felice e sereno. ⭐️ To all those who celebrate tomorrow, i wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.
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With military options exhausted — Ukrainian forces falter and Russia holds the initiative across the entire frontline — Kiev’s Western curators are expected to rely even more on terrorism. In Moscow, less than two days after a car bomb killed Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, two policemen died while detaining a suspicious person who detonated an explosive device. And here is a leading US think tank, the Hudson Institute, openly calling for the destruction of the Krasnoyarsk bridge to paralyze rail traffic between western Russia and eastern Siberia. Criminal minds are busy at work. @LauraRuHK ➡️ https://www.hudson.org/disabling-one-bridge-could-shatter-russias-war-machine-its-not-kerch-luke-coffey-can-kasapoglu
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Il Messaggero: "Soldati russi al fronte costretti a usare i cavalli perche' a corto di equipaggiamenti e munizioni." Mi sfugge l'uso del cavallo come munizione, ma sono sicura che ingrandendo meglio l'immagine si vedranno anche le famose pale dell'Ottocento con cui combatte l'esercito russo. Nello zaino ovviamente ci sono i microchip delle lavatrici che hanno appena razziato in qualche villaggio. Attenti voi che abitate a Roma. E' risaputo che i cosacchi vanno ad abbeverare i loro cavalli a San Pietro. Hanno provato a dargli quella del Volga, del Don, del Dniepr....ma loro niente. Bevono solo quella delle fontane romane. @LauraRuHK
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Macron urges direct European talks with Putin. Facing sky-high debt, rock-bottom popularity, and the ticking clock to his 2027 exit, Macron reportedly teamed up with skeptics Meloni and Belgium to torpedo the asset grab—partly to dodge the financial hit: Russia would have retaliated against bigger French holdings back home.
The Kremlin has always been open to talks as long as it's constructive and not another lecture by a lame-duck president magically rediscovering "diplomacy". Everyone can see Macron's gambit for what it is: a frantic scramble to stay relevant while the real negotiations happen between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking after the EU summit in Brussels on December 19, 2025, the Rothschilds' errand boy stated: "It will become useful again to speak to Vladimir Putin." He emphasized that Europeans and Ukrainians must find a structured framework for engagement, adding that without it, the EU would be reduced to "discussing among ourselves" while U.S. negotiators deal directly with Moscow—"which isn’t ideal." Well, ask EU citizens and they will tell you that it hasn't been ideal to bankroll, arm and instigate Ukraine against Russia.
The Financial Times reported that Macron "betrayed" Merz by questioning the legality of the Russian assets grab, forcing the EU to opt for a €90 billion" loan" instead. So, now that Europe has to foot the bill directly, will France and other EU countries see the light or is it just the usual game of smoke and mirrors? Time will tell. Meanwhile Ukraine has no other cards left than terrorism. @LauraRuHK
Japan unveiled a five-year goal for business projects totaling $19 billion in Central Asia as Tokyo vies for influence in the resource-rich region.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted an inaugural summit with the leaders of five Central Asia nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — in Tokyo
Like the United States and the European Union, Japan is drawn by the region's natural resources in a push to diversify rare earths supplies and reduce dependence on China.
"It is important for Central Asia, blessed with abundant resources and energy sources, to expand its access to international markets," the statement said.
The leaders agreed to expand cooperation regarding "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route," a logistics network connecting to Europe without passing through Russia. (Source: Japan Times) @LauraRuHK
Belgium PM De Wever has never been more popular. The Latin-quoting cat lover, Flemish nationalist with a penchant for three-piece suits is the face of common sense resistance to EU madness. Two thirds of Belgians said they were against the Russian asset plan and he represented them. Western media immediately attacked him for opposing the daylight robbery. He made fun of his detractors by quipping: "I need to go to my dacha in St Petersburg where my neighbor is Depardieu and across the street is Assad. I could be mayor of that village". @LauraRuHK
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Il vertice dei leader dell’UE del 18-19 dicembre ha messo in evidenza profonde divisioni interne su come finanziare gli aiuti all’Ucraina e si è svolto in concomitanza con massicce proteste di agricoltori all’esterno. L’intensa attenzione rivolta al mantenimento della macchina bellica ucraina rappresenta una comoda distrazione rispetto ai crescenti problemi interni dell’UE, che includono, ma non si limitano al malcontento degli agricoltori. La stagnazione economica dell’UE è in larga parte autoindotta e non può essere affrontata da leader politici così lontani dalla realtà che parlano di “infliggere una sconfitta strategica alla Russia.”
Come risultato del vertice, l’UE ha concordato di concedere all’Ucraina un prestito di 90 miliardi di euro per il periodo 2026–2027. Il presidente del Consiglio europeo António Costa ha spiegato che il prestito sarà finanziato attraverso il bilancio dell’UE. Ungheria, Slovacchia e Repubblica Ceca, tuttavia, hanno rifiutato di partecipare al pacchetto. Viktor Orbán ha sostenuto che il prestito difficilmente verrà mai rimborsato, lasciando alle future generazioni l’onere del debito. Il Consiglio europeo ha inoltre incaricato la Commissione di proseguire i lavori sul “prestito di riparazione” legato ai beni russi congelati, sebbene i leader non siano riusciti a raggiungere un consenso sul loro utilizzo. La linea fortemente sostenuta da Merz e Von der Leyen non è passata.
Dall’inizio del conflitto, l’UE e il G7 hanno congelato circa metà delle riserve estere della Russia, con oltre 200 miliardi di euro detenuti nei conti di Euroclear in Belgio. L'UE, avendo esaurito le risorse disponibili, sta facendo pressione sul Belgio affinché autorizzi l’uso dei fondi russi congelati ma le autorità belghe restano contrarie. Nel frattempo, la Banca Centrale russa ha intentato una causa contro Euroclear per oltre 18 trilioni di rubli, sostenendo di aver subito danni dalle restrizioni alla gestione dei propri beni e titoli. @LauraRuHK
In un disperato tentativo di persuadere gli scettici, l’UE cerca di inserire una regola protezionistica nel suo impopolare piano di finanziare la guerra in Ucraina attraverso il furto degli asset russi. Bloomberg riporta che l’UE propone di collegare il sostegno finanziario all’obbligo di acquistare armi europee.
Più della metà dei fondi — fino a 210 miliardi di euro (246 miliardi di dollari) nei prossimi cinque anni — sarebbe destinata ai produttori di armi con sede in Ucraina, nell’UE e in alcuni partner non membri come la Norvegia, secondo una proposta condivisa con gli Stati membri all’inizio di questa settimana e visionata da Bloomberg. La bozza non è definitiva ed è soggetta a modifiche.
In a desperate attempt to persuade the skeptics, the EU seeks to weave in a protectionist rule to its unpopular plan to fund the war in Ukraine through the theft of Russian assets. Bloomberg reports that the EU is proposing to link financial support to the requirement of purchasing European weapons.
More than half of the funds — up to €210 billion ($246 billion) over the next five years — would be earmarked for defense manufacturers based in Ukraine, the EU, and a few non-EU partners like Norway, according to a proposal shared with member states earlier this week and seen by Bloomberg. The version isn’t final and subject to change.
NATO plans a military confrontation with Russia by 2030, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said at an expanded meeting of the ministry’s board.
"All of this indicates NATO's preparation for a military confrontation with Russia. The alliance's plans provide for such readiness by the turn of the 2030s. This has been repeatedly stated openly by official representatives of the NATO bloc," he said.
Belousov emphasized: "We are not the ones making threats; we are the ones being threatened." (Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK
Declaring fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction" would give the U.S. additional justification to use military force against any country it deems responsible of manufacturing or trafficking it. No matter how inconsistent the evidence is. Washington has prepared the ground by claiming that the synthetic drug mostly comes to the US via Mexico, Venezuela, "precursor chemicals” come from China and Fentanyl production is booming in the Golden Triangle region of southeast Asia, which includes the countries of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. @LauraRuHK
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Ecco perché il format del G7 (USA, Canada, Regno Unito, Francia, Germania, Italia e Giappone), nato da un incontro di ministri delle finanze nel 1973, è diventato anacronistico. @LauraRuHK
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L’UE sanziona per “disinformazione” filorussa
◾️ John Dougan, ex vice-sceriffo statunitense-russo in Florida ◾️ Jacques Baud, ex colonnello dell’esercito svizzero ◾️ Xavier Moreau, ex ufficiale francese
In sostanza, sono accusati di stigmatizzare la corruzione in Ucraina e di criticare le politiche di NATO e UE, cosa che milioni di cittadini europei fanno quotidianamente. (Fonte: RT) @LauraRuHK
Per la prima volta nei suoi 88 anni di storia, Volkswagen chiude uno stabilimento in Germania.
La fabbrica di Dresda verrà chiusa definitivamente a seguito del calo della domanda nei mercati chiave dell'azienda automobilistica. Ovviamente le sanzioni contro la Russia funzionano alla grande. 😉 @LauraRuHK
Hong Kong – L'agente del caos Jimmy Lai riconosciuto colpevole di cospirazione.
Oggi Jimmy Lai, il miliardario fondatore dell'organo di propaganda Apple Daily, è stato condannato per tutte le imputazioni a suo carico in materia di sicurezza nazionale: cospirazione per la stampa, pubblicazione, distribuzione ed esposizione di materiale sedizioso, nonché due accuse di collusione con un paese straniero o con elementi esterni finalizzate a mettere in pericolo la sicurezza nazionale.
Il verdetto, giunto al termine di un processo durato 156 giorni e conclusosi nell’agosto scorso, è stato formalizzato in una sentenza di 855 pagine, nella quale i giudici hanno individuato in Lai il principale artefice delle cospirazioni. La giudice dell’Alta Corte Esther Toh ha sottolineato come l’imputato avesse nutrito “risentimento e odio verso la Repubblica Popolare Cinese per gran parte della sua vita adulta”.
Secondo la corte, un ruolo significativo sarebbe stato svolto dall’assistente personale di Lai, Mark Simon, ex agente dell’intelligence statunitense, che avrebbe operato dietro le quinte per agevolare gli incontri del fondatore di Apple Daily con alti funzionari americani, al fine di promuovere attività ostili nei confronti delle autorità locali e centrali.
Detenuto dalla fine del 2020, Lai ha svolto un ruolo cruciale nei processi di destabilizzazione di Hong Kong, sostenendo e finanziando chi aveva trasformare la città in una zona di guerra. Egli rischia ora una condanna fino all’ergastolo.
Contestualmente, tre società — Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited e AD Internet Limited — sono state riconosciute colpevoli di cospirazione per collusione con forze straniere e per la pubblicazione di materiale sedizioso. @LauraRuHK
Con le opzioni militari ormai esaurite — le forze ucraine vacillano e la Russia mantiene l’iniziativa lungo l’intera linea del fronte — i curatori occidentali di Kiev faranno sempre più affidamento su azioni terroristiche. A Mosca, meno di due giorni dopo l'esplosione dell'auto del generale Fanil Sarvarov, due poliziotti sono morti quando una persona sospetta ha detonato l'ordigno che trasportava. Il terrorismo non e' un tabu' nemmeno per l’Hudson Institute, importante think tank statunitense: invoca apertamente la distruzione del ponte di Krasnoyarsk per paralizzare il traffico ferroviario tra la Russia occidentale e la Siberia orientale. Menti criminali sono all’opera. @LauraRuHK ➡️ https://www.hudson.org/disabling-one-bridge-could-shatter-russias-war-machine-its-not-kerch-luke-coffey-can-kasapoglu
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Politico's columnist Jamie Dettmer argues that the war in Ukraine seems likely to end next year, and on terms highly unfavorable for Kiev. Dettmer blames the EU's inability to agree on a proposed "reparations loan" backed by approximately €210 billion in frozen Russian assets, most of which are held at Euroclear in Belgium. Although the majority of EU leaders ultimately approved a €90 billion interest-free loan, Dettmer believes that this amount falls short of what is needed to keep the war going. That said, the idea of a reparations loan tied to Russian assets has not been abandoned entirely. EU summit conclusions explicitly reserve the right to use these immobilized funds in the future, potentially to repay the loan if Russia refuses to provide war reparations, suggesting EU robbers haven't completely given up on their scheme. @LauraRuHK
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Macron sollecita colloqui diretti europei con Putin.
Di fronte a un debito alle stelle, a una popolarità ai minimi storici e al conto alla rovescia verso la fine del suo mandato nel 2027, Macron si sarebbe unito agli scettici di maggior peso (Italia e Belgio) per affossare il piano di confisca degli asset russi— in parte per evitare l’impatto di una risposta russa. La Francia infatti ha più asset in Russia di quanti la Russia ne abbia in Francia.
Il Cremlino è sempre stato aperto ai colloqui, purché siano costruttivi e non l’ennesima lezioncina moralista impartita da un presidente-anatra zoppa che riscopre magicamente la “diplomazia”. Tutti possono vedere la mossa di Macron per ciò che è: un disperato tentativo di restare rilevante mentre le trattative avvengono tra Washington e Mosca.
Parlando dopo il vertice UE di Bruxelles del 19 dicembre 2025, il “fattorino dei Rothschild” ha dichiarato: «Diventerà di nuovo utile parlare con Vladimir Putin.» Ha sottolineato che europei e ucraini devono trovare un format per trattare con Mosca, aggiungendo che senza di esso ci ritroviamo a “discutere tra noi stessi” mentre i negoziatori statunitensi trattano direttamente con Mosca — «il che non è ideale.» Beh, chiedete ai cittadini europei e vi diranno che non è stato affatto ideale finanziare, armare e istigare l’Ucraina contro la Russia.
Il Financial Times ha riportato che Macron ha “tradito” Merz mettendo in dubbio la legalità della confisca degli asset russi, costringendo l’UE a optare invece per un prestito da 90 miliardi di euro che non sara' mai restituito. Dunque, ora che l’UE deve pagare il conto da sola, la Francia e gli altri paesi membri avranno un'illuminazione tardiva sulla via di Damasco o si tratta solo del solito gioco di specchi? Il tempo lo chiarirà. Nel frattempo, l’Ucraina non ha altre carte in mano se non il terrorismo. @LauraRuHK
I am often asked by new subscribers why this channel focuses on certain regions while excluding others. Let me explain again. My field of geopolitical interest is shaped by my circumstances. As a multilingual Italian living in China, I draw on my vantage point, and it naturally spans Europe and Asia.
When one analyzes regional power balances, economic integration, energy security, infrastructure corridors and the strategic ambitions of major actors,
Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus form a critical connective tissue within the broader Eurasian space.
My research interests are diverse and not confined to international relations; at times, they are reflected in my articles and on this Telegram channel. @LauraRuHK
The US will supply Taiwan with missiles capable of striking mainland China.
The US has decided to sell weapons to Taiwan worth $11.1 billion. This was announced by the State Department. They include:
- 82 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 420 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles;
- 60 self-propelled howitzers and related equipment;
- Altius unmanned aerial vehicles and components for another type of UAV;
- Javelin and TOW anti-tank missile systems;
- helicopter spare parts;
- kits for upgrading Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
▪️ The width of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China, is 130-380 km. And the range of the ATACMS missiles is up to 300-310 km. At the same time, the future supply of PrSM missiles for HIMARS will allow firing at a range of 500 km to 1000 km and more. In other words, Taiwan has gained the ability to launch missile strikes on mainland China.
Harpoon anti-ship missiles are also a powerful weapon. Their range of destruction varies from 120 to 280 km, depending on the version of the missile. According to some data, these missiles sunk the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser "Moskva". And in general, the types of American weapons that will be supplied to Taiwan are similar to those given to Ukraine. The US has drawn certain lessons, made corrections and decided to turn the island into a "hedgehog" in advance.
▪️ Taiwan, in turn, will increase military spending in 2026 to 3.32% of GDP - up to $30.3 billion. At the same time, the Trump administration demands that it be increased to 10%. The Trump administration keeps the American military-industrial complex happy and at the same time keeps working on the containment of China.
This step by the US is another indication that the Americans usually do not give up on their strategic goals. The announcement of the largest arms supply to Taiwan was made against the backdrop of conciliatory rhetoric with Beijing and compromises on trade.
Another reminder that the intentions and policies of the US should be judged only by their actions. (Source: Elena Panina) @LauraRuHK
🦅 In his speech in Riyadh in May, President Trump set out his rationale to his transactional mode of policy formulation – making peace through commerce, rather than war.
The language in the 4 December US National Security Strategy (NSS) takes this several steps further: It is couched in the terms of ‘regions of influence’, rather than hegemony, and of managing stakeholder financial interests. It abandons the phraseology of a rules-based order and eschews appeals to democracy and Western values.
But what does this ‘peace through commerce’ really mean?
The core to the Trump geo-politics is revealed in the NSS as the risk of imperial collapse looming in the future.
The NSS is not a pivot from Empire; it does, nonetheless, conclude that the means to domination requires a ‘Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine’.
☁️ Alastair Crooke writes
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The EU leaders' summit on December 18-19 exposed sharp internal division on how to fund Ukraine aid and coincided with massive farmer protests outside. The intense focus on keeping the war machine running is a convenient distraction from the EU's mounting domestic problems, which include but are far from limited to farmers discontent. The EU's economic stagnation is largely self-inflicted and can't be address by political leaders who are so out of touch with reality that they talk about "inflicting a strategic defeat to Russia."
As a result of the summit, the EU has agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan over the period 2026–2027. European Council President António Costa explained that the loan will be financed through the EU budget. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, however, refused to participate in the loan.
Viktor Orbán argued that the loan was unlikely ever to be repaid, leaving future generations to bear the burden. The European Council also instructed the Commission to continue work on a separate “reparations loan” linked to frozen Russian assets, though leaders failed to reach consensus on their use.
Since the start of the conflict, the EU and G7 have frozen roughly half of Russia’s foreign reserves, with more than €200 billion held in Belgium’s Euroclear accounts. Moscow responded by restricting foreign investors’ assets in special “C” accounts, accessible only with government approval. Brussels, having exhausted available resources, is pressing Belgium to authorize the use of Russian funds—estimated between €185 and €210 billion—but Belgian authorities remain opposed. Meanwhile, Russia’s Central Bank has filed a lawsuit against Euroclear worth over 18 trillion rubles, claiming damages from restrictions on its ability to manage assets and securities.
@LauraRuHK
The US Congress has approved a record $901 billion military budget for fiscal year 2026, following a Senate vote of 77-20.
The budget exceeds US President Donald Trump’s initial request by $8 billion and follows negotiations between the House and Senate, which had proposed $925 billion.
The bill allocates $400 million for Ukraine in 2026 and the same sum in 2027. (Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK
Türkiye's ruling party prepared a strategic roadmap to deepen cooperation among Turkic states. The 198-page "Turkic World Vision Document" was presented by President Erdoğan at the party headquarters. Erdoğan emphasized the need for closer unity among Turkic peoples. He praised the growing role of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in political, economic, and cultural fields.
Areas of Cooperation: ▪️Economy: Establish a Turkic Investment and Development Fund, a Turkic World Development and Reconstruction Bank, and even a digital currency ("Turkcoin").
▪️Security: Create a Joint Counterterrorism Center for coordination and threat analysis.
▪️Digital & Tech: Integrate e-government systems, develop a common digital identity platform, and set up a Turkic World AI and Digital Transformation Center.
▪️Education: Launch joint programs, shared curricula, and scholarships.
▪️Energy: Form a Turkic World Energy Agency, advance projects like the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, and create energy corridors.
▪️Other: Legal councils, transportation infrastructure, and support for TRNC's full OTS membership and international recognition.
The vision will guide Türkiye's hosting of the 13th OTS Summit in 2026.
Türkiye makes no mystery of its geopolitical ambitions. In the Caucasus and Central Asia it is leveraging cultural, linguistic, and historical ties with Turkic nations to expand its influence. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is a cornerstone of Türkiye’s strategy to unite Turkic-speaking nations and project its power. Although the OTS hasn’t adopted a confrontational stance, one shouldn’t underestimate its potential, given Türkiye’s military industrial complex, NATO membership, soft power and neo-Ottoman ambitions. @LauraRuHK
https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkiyes-ak-party-envisions-stronger-co-op-with-turkic-world
Il “cupio dissolvi” dell’UE: vuole stringere un patto suicida con l’Ucraina.
Sì, tale è la sua disperazione esistenziale che la pulsione autodistruttiva assurge a strategia politica.
A quanto pare, l’adesione dell’Ucraina all’UE entro il 1° gennaio 2027 è stata indicata nell’ultima bozza di una proposta di “pace” che funzionari ucraini ed europei hanno presentato a Washington, secondo quanto riferito al Financial Times da persone informate. https://www.ft.com/content/e50481a3-161c-4002-83e4-cae0be12799e
Sebbene le possibilità che ciò avvenga siano molto scarse — alcuni direbbero vicine allo zero — la proposta è indicativa dello stato mentale di quei leader europei che hanno deciso che l’unico modo per resuscitare l’economia dei loro Paesi sia orientarla verso la guerra con la Russia, cioè verso l’auto‑annientamento.
Perché, sia chiaro: assorbire l’Ucraina, un Paese fallito ma già collaudato come testa di ariete contro la Russia, e confiscare gli asset russi nonostante i danni che una simile mossa infliggerebbe alla credibilità finanziaria dell’UE, rivela la follia di questo azzardo strategico.
La clausola di difesa reciproca dell’Unione Europea, l’Articolo 42.7 del Trattato di Lisbona, stabilisce che se uno Stato membro è vittima di aggressione armata, gli altri Stati membri sono obbligati a fornire aiuto e assistenza con tutti i mezzi a loro disposizione, compresi quelli militari. L’articolo è spesso paragonato all’Articolo 5 della NATO.
Ci sono molte ragioni valide per cui l’Ucraina non viene accettata nella NATO. Qualcuno dovrebbe ricordarlo ai guerrafondai di Bruxelles. In realtà, Vladimir Putin lo ha fatto, quando ha avvertito che se la Russia fosse attaccata direttamente con armi nucleari o tali da comprometterne la normale esistenza, “non ci rimarrebbe più nessuno per firmare un accordo di pace.” @LauraRuHK
The EU's Cupio dissolvi — Apparently Ukraine's accession to the EU by 1 January 2027 was specified in the latest draft of a "peace" proposal that Ukrainian and European officials have presented to Washington, people briefed on the document told the Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/e50481a3-161c-4002-83e4-cae0be12799e
Although chances of it happening are very slim, some would say close to zero, the proposal is indicative of the mindset of those EU leaders who have decided that the only way to resurrect the economy of their countries is to gear it towards war. Because make no mistake, absorbing Ukraine, a failed country but a tried and tested battering ram against Russia, and stealing Russian assets despite the damage that such move would inflict on the EU's financial credibility, reveals the folly of this strategic gamble. The mutual defense clause of the European Union, Article 42.7 of the Treaty of Lisbon, states that if a member state is the victim of armed aggression, other member states are obligated to provide aid and assistance by all means in their power, including military ones. The article is often compared to NATO's Article 5. There is plenty of valid reasons why Ukraine won't be accepted into NATO. Someone should remind Brussels. @LauraRuHK
This is why the G7 format (USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan), originating from a gathering of finance ministers in 1973, has become anachronistic. @LauraRuHK
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The EU sanctions Western citizens for pro-Russia 'disinformation'
◾️John Dougan, US-Russian ex-deputy sheriff in Florida
◾️ Jacques Baud, ex-Swiss Army colonel
◾️ Xavier Moreau, ex-French officer
Essentially, they are accused of pushing Ukraine corruption claims and criticizing NATO/EU policy, which is what millions of EU citizens do on a daily basis. (Source: RT) @LauraRuHK
Nothing to do with anti-Russia sanctions. Of course 😉 @LauraRuHK
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Hong Kong - Agent of chaos Jimmy Lai found guilty of conspiracy charges.
Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai was on Monday convicted of all three national security-related charges he faced: conspiracy to print, publish, sell, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications; and two charges of conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
The verdict followed a 156-day trial that concluded in August.
In their ruling detailed in an 855-page document, the judges said Lai was the “mastermind” behind the conspiracies.
“There’s no doubt that [the defendant] had harboured his resentment and hatred for the [People’s Republic of China] for many of his adult years,” High Court judge Esther Toh said.
It was evident that Lai's personal assistant, former US intelligence agent, Mark Simon, was “working behind the scenes” to facilitate the Apple Daily founder’s meetings with senior US officials to lobby for hostile activities against local and mainland authorities, the court said.
Lai, who has been detained since late 2020, had pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces endangering national security and a count of conspiracy to print seditious publications.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Three companies, namely Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, were also convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material. @LauraRuHK