Alleging Kovrig Was Involved in Gathering Intelligence From Spavor Only Perpetuates Beijing’s ‘False Narrative,’ Ottawa Says

Global Affairs Canada says that suggesting either Michael Kovrig or Michael Spavor was involved in “espionage” will only serve Beijing’s false allegations over their arrests, which occurred after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request in 2018. The statement comes after a Nov. 18 Globe and Mail article said Mr. Spavor is seeking a multimillion-dollar settlement from the federal government, alleging that his detention came as a result of Mr. Kovrig, a former diplomat, gathering intelligence from him to provide to the Canadian government. “Perpetuating the notion that either Michael was involved in espionage is only perpetuating a false narrative under which they were detained by China,” a spokesperson with Global Affairs Canada told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement....