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October 8, 2010

I am grateful to the Nobel Committee for selecting my husband, Liu Xiaobo, to be the recipient of the

2010 Nobel Peace Prize. It is a true honor for him and one for which I know he would say he is not

worthy. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to former Czech Republic President Václav Havel,

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, and so many others who courageously

nominated him for the Prize.

I hope that the international community will take this opportunity to call on the Chinese government to

press for my husband’s release. As the Committee recognized, China’s new status in the world comes

with increased responsibility. China should embrace this responsibility, have pride in his selection, and

release him from prison.

BACKGROUND

Liu Xiaobo is a Chinese scholar and democracy activist who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for

“inciting subversion of state power” on December 25, 2009, for his role in drafting Charter 08. The

Chinese government previously detained Dr. Liu for his peaceful democracy advocacy on four occasions,

including his participation in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Dr. Liu was one of four intellectuals

who negotiated with the army for the safe passage of students out of the Square. Under China’s

Constitution, both the President and the Standing Committee on the National People’s Congress have the

power to grant special pardons (Articles 80 and 67 (17) respectively).

Freedom Now serves as international counsel to Liu Xiaobo, as retained by his wife Liu Xia.

1750 K Street NW, Suite 350 • Washington, DC 20006 • +1 (202) 223-3733 • www.freedom-now.org