Chinese who reported on COVID to be released after 3 years

A cousin and another person familiar with his case said Sunday that Chinese authorities were preparing to release a man who disappeared three years ago after posting videos of congested hospitals and bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early 2020, citizen journalists like Fang Bin shared pandemic data on social media, exposing Chinese officials who were criticized for failing to manage the spread. “All citizens resist, hand power back to the people,” stated Fang’s last Twitter video.

Beijing’s crackdown on criticism of China’s early epidemic response includes Fang’s case.

Two unnamed sources said he would be released Sunday. One said Fang was sentenced to three years for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague allegation often used against political dissidents.

The Associated Press could not independently confirm his release or the details with officials.
Two Wuhan public security bureau offices did not give an information office phone number or answer questions. Sunday afternoon calls to a court that condemned Fang went unanswered. A woman from another court that processed Fang’s appeal said she wasn’t authorized to answer questions.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million in Hubei province, was ravaged by the initial COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. For months, only ambulances and security personnel walked its streets during a 76-day lockdown.

A few citizen journalists used smart phones and social media to challenge the Communist Party’s information monopoly. Though small, their movement was unprecedented in any major disease outbreak or disaster in China.

Their information got them into trouble. Chen Qiushi and Fang disappeared in February.

Chen revealed his depression on his friend’s YouTube live stream in September 2021. He did not explain his disappearance.

In December 2020, Zhang Zhan, another citizen journalist who covered the early epidemic, was sentenced to four years in prison for fighting and causing trouble. After an eight-month hunger strike, her lawyer said she was ill.

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Taipei-based Wu reported.