Tran Quoc Khanh
Current Status: Sentenced to prison
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Other Names: Trần Quốc Khánh
Date of Birth: October 18, 1960
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Blogger
Last Known Prison: Ninh Binh police detention center, Ninh Binh province
Areas of Activism:
- Democracy
Highlighted Human Rights Concerns:
- Denial of Legal Representation
- Online commentator
February 2022:
Tran Quoc Khanh had his appeal trial on February 17. Just like most of the appeal trials, there was no change to Khanh’s 6.5 year sentence. According to his brother Tran Quoc An, Khanh’s lawyer and his family were not allowed inside the courtroom, yet “there were strangers in the room.” Recently, Khanh was allowed to see his wife and talk on the phone. Khanh has recently been experiencing high blood pressure, stomach aches, severe gout, and mental stress.
Details - Background, History of Activism.
Tran Quoc Khanh is a permanent resident of Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. However, according to the documents of the Security Investigating Agency of Ninh Binh Province, from 2018 to 2020, Tran Quoc Khanh was living in Kim Son District, Ninh Binh.
Tran Quoc Khanh is a Facebook commentator. He often livestreams and talks about his views on contemporary political conditions and policies. He also has called for proper separation of power, the establishment of a multi-party model, and democratization in Vietnamese politics.
Khởi tố, bắt giam Trần Quốc Khánh vì livestream tuyên truyền chống phá Nhà nước, Tien Phong Online, March 10, 2021
Bắt ông Trần Quốc Khánh vì livestream tuyên truyền chống phá Nhà nước, Tuoi tre Online, March 10, 2021
Việt Nam bắt Facebooker Trần Quốc Khánh sau khi ông tuyên bố tự ứng cử ĐBQH, Voice of America Vietnamese, March 11, 2021
Arrested March 10, 2021. Sentenced to 6 years 6 months in prison under Art. 117 (2015 Code). Expected Release is September 10, 2027.
March 10, 2021
- Art. 117 (2015 Code)
Ninh Binh province public security, Ninh Binh province
Hai Ba Trung District (map)
October 28, 2021
The People's Court of Ninh Binh Province
- None
- Le Dinh Viet
6 years 6 months in prison
September 10, 2027
- freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention
- liberty and security of the person
- freedom of expression
- fair trial
- political participation
According to the documents published by the Security Investigating Agency of Ninh Binh Public Security, from the end of 2018 until 2020, Tran Quoc Khanh was outside of Hanoi and temporarily lived in Kim Son District, Ninh Binh Province.
During his stay, Khanh was accused of frequently live streaming information and accusations against the Vietnamese government and the Party’s leadership, using his Facebook account “Trần Quốc Khánh” and another account named “Tiếng nói Công dân.” The fact that these actions were conducted when he was living in Ninh Binh gives Ninh Binh’s public security the judicial authority over his case, they argue in these documents.
However, it should be noted that Khanh had just applied to become an independent candidate for the upcoming National Assembly Election in Haainoi. Considering that many other independent candidates are also subject to harassment, it can be argued that Khanh is one of many victims of a systematic crackdown just because he is trying to get involved in the Party-controlled election.
October 2021:
Tran Quoc Khanh was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for 22 video clips he posted on his Facebook page “Tieng Noi Cong Dan” (Citizens’ Voice). Before his trial on October 28, his lawyer, Le Dinh Viet, called the family to say that Khanh didn’t want an attorney. However, Khanh’s family confirmed this week that Khanh had sent them a message saying he wanted the family to contact the attorney.
Khởi tố, bắt giam Trần Quốc Khánh vì livestream tuyên truyền chống phá Nhà nước, Tien Phong Online, March 10, 2021
Bắt ông Trần Quốc Khánh vì livestream tuyên truyền chống phá Nhà nước, Tuoi tre Online, March 10, 2021
Việt Nam bắt Facebooker Trần Quốc Khánh sau khi ông tuyên bố tự ứng cử ĐBQH, Voice of America Vietnamese, March 11, 2021
Attorney Le Dinh Viet's announcement about the arrest and his representation of Tran Quoc Khanh, March 11, 2021
Bị phạt hơn 6 năm tù vì livestream trên facebook chống phá Nhà nước, Dan Tri, October 28, 2021
Profile last updated: 2022-03-01 00:55:27