Pham Chi Thanh

On the morning of May 21, 2020, around 40 officers of Hanoi public security forces raided Pham Chi Thanh’s apartment in Hanoi. They read an arrest warrant to the family and searched the home for an hour. The public security subsequently arrested Thanh and confiscated some of his personal items, including two computers, a printer, several manuscripts and documents. 

During the search, the officers temporarily confiscated the phones of his wife (Nguyen Thi Nghiem) and other members of the family. The public security forces also refused to give the family copies of the arrest warrant and search warrant.

September 2020:

Two members of the unsanctioned Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam (IJAVN) had their pre-trial detentions extended without their families being informed. Pham Chi Thanh, arrested in May, had his detention extended by four months on charges of engaging in “anti-state propaganda”. The organization’s vice-president, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, also arrested in May and similarly charged, may also have had his detention extended without notice.

December 2020:

Author and veteran journalist Pham Chi Thanh, who has been detained at Hoa Lo Prison since his arrest in May, was reportedly moved to a mental health facility in late November. Authorities reported he was moved to the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry for an evaluation but did not provide specific details about the transfer. Thanh’s wife said of the move: “I’ve been living with him for years, I know that his mental health is normal. He doesn’t have a problem.” She has not been allowed to see or speak with him since he was moved to the hospital.

January 2021:

Pham Thanh was suddenly moved from a medical facility back to Hoa Lo Prison on New Year’s Day without notice, his wife said.

May 2021: 

Journalist Pham Chi Thanh, aka Pham Thanh, was finally allowed to see a lawyer for the first time since his arrest in May 2020. According to attorney Ha Huy Son, the 69-year-old was in good health. But his family said he had earlier fallen and hit his head on the cement floor, which required stitches. 

June 2021:

The trial for journalist and blogger Pham Chi Thanh will take place on July 9. According to his lawyer Ha Huy Son, the trial will be conducted by Hanoi People’s Court and will be open to the public. He is being charged with “anti-state propaganda” under Article 117, which could carry a penalty of seven  to 12 years in prison.

July 2021:

Novelist Pham Thanh, real name Pham Chi Thanh, 69, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for “anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. He wrote a book that was deemed critical of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. His family was not allowed to attend the “open trial” on July 9 in Hanoi.