Prominent mainland dissident Liu Xiaobo will be tried on subversion charges today amid accusations that the central government is retaliating for his role in drafting a manifesto that calls for the guaranteeing of basic rights, political reform and rule of law.
Liu faces between five and 15 years in jail on the charge of 'inciting subversion of state power'. Police alleged that Liu incited subversion through six of his pro-democracy articles published online and by co-drafting the Charter 08 manifesto, according to his lawyers.
Lawyer Mo Shaoping said: 'We will enter an innocent plea tomorrow, because we think this is violating his basic civil and human rights and breaches international conventions [on human rights].'
His lawyers had said authorities considered his alleged crime 'particularly serious', and his wife fears he will be given a long jail term.
Beijing police presented his case to prosecutors on December 8 after detaining him for exactly one year, and he was formally indicted three days later. Liu was detained two days before the charter was published, but was only officially arrested in June.
The publication date of the manifesto was to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
His wife, Liu Xia, said authorities had barred her from attending the trial of her husband at the Beijing No1 Intermediate People's Court today. She has not been allowed to visit him since March 20.
