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Nobel Widow Leaves China After 8 Years Under House Arrest

by Associated Press

   Liu Xia, the widow of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo,
   left China on Tuesday for Europe after eight years under house arrest,
   her relatives and friends said.

   Western governments and activists have urged China for years to release
   Liu Xia, citing the fact that she has never been charged with any
   crime.

   Liu Xia's brother, Liu Hui, wrote on a social media site: "Sister has
   already left Beijing for Europe at noon to start her new life. Thanks
   to everyone who has helped and cared for her these few years. I hope
   from now on her life is peaceful and happy."

   Gao Yu, a family friend and veteran Chinese journalist in Beijing,
   confirmed the post was written by Liu Hui and told AP that Liu Xia was
   headed to Berlin. Su Yutong, a family friend based in Germany, also
   confirmed her departure.

   Liu's release comes as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is visiting Germany,
   a country that in May said it would welcome the widow after a recording
   was released of her crying in desperation and indicating she has given
   up hope of being able to leave China.

   Chinese authorities put her under house arrest in 2010, days after the
   Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded her imprisoned husband the Peace
   Prize, infuriating the Chinese government.

   Liu Xiaobo died of liver cancer last July while under government
   custody, prompting renewed calls for Liu Xia's release. The first
   anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death is Friday.

   China sentenced Liu Xiaobo in December 2009 to 11 years' imprisonment
   on charges of inciting subversion of state power after he helped write
   a manifesto calling for political and economic liberalization. Chinese
   authorities repeatedly declined to discuss Liu Xia's confinement, which
   critics say was cruel and illegal.

   Authorities had assigned guards around-the-clock outside Liu's Beijing
   home and restricted her access to Internet and the outside world,
   allowing her only occasional phone calls with a small circle of
   friends.

   An accomplished artist and poet, Liu told Associated Press reporters
   during an unexpected visit to her home in 2012 that she had anticipated
   China would punish her for her husband's Nobel award but she had not
   expected to be kept under "Kafkaesque" house arrest.

   Liu's friends in recent months have said her mental condition has
   steadily deteriorated, particularly since the death of her husband.