China releases photojournalist Lu Guang after a year of detention

After almost a year of detention, award-winning Chinese photojournalist Lu Guang has been released. He has been documenting China’s dark side for years, and in November 2018, he got arrested. He has been released a few months ago, but he is reportedly still kept under surveillance.

Around this time last year, Mr. Lu went missing, and his wife Xu Xiaoli shared on Twitter that he last heard from him on 3 November 2018. In December same year, the Chinese police confirmed that he had been arrested. However, the police didn’t disclose any details about the reasons for his arrest. Ms. Xu said at the time that she hadn’t received written confirmation of the arrest or the information of the crime her husband had been charged with.

On Monday, Ms. Xu published on Twitter that her husband has been home for a few months now. Voice of America reports that “home” in this case means “China,” despite the fact that Mr. Lu and his wife have been permanent residents of the US since 2005. According to the same source, Mr. Lu is believed to be “under surveillance on a residential bail-like release.” This means that he could still face charges if the authorities found that he “misbehaved.”

Lu’s has worked as a freelance photographer since 1993. His work reflects on major social, health, and environmental issues in China, but represents the world we live in as a whole. His images have brought him many awards so far, and VOA writes that Reporters Without Borders (RSF) listed him among the 12 nominees for its 2019 Press Freedom Award. However, he didn’t win this year’s award.

[via PDN; image credits: World Press Photo (video screenshot)]