Great News! Chinese Designer Liu Zhenggang Released

Liu Zhenggang, a designer, has been released. He was released on 24 June on medical grounds. He remains under surveillance at his home in Beijing, China.

Liu Zhenggang, a designer working at internationally renowned artist Ai Weiwei’s design firm, was released from detention on 24 June. He is now at his home in Beijing, China and is under surveillance.Liu Zhenggang was detained in early April along with Ai Weiwei and several of his other associates: Wen Tao, his friend and assistant, Zhang Jingsong, his cousin and driver, and Hu Mingfen, his accountant. Liu Zhenggang was detained for interrogation, during which he suffered a heart attack. He was then sent to Lanzhou Armed Police Hospital to recover.

Ai Weiwei was released on 22 June. According to Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, Ai Weiwei was released “because of his good attitude in confessing his crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from” and because he agreed to pay taxes he owes. Zhang Jingsong was released on 23 June. Wen Tao and Hu Mingfen were also released late on 23 June or early 24 June and have returned home.

Amnesty International will continue to closely monitor their situation and will take further action as appropriate.