Statement

Immediately Release of Chea Vuthy, Reverse 18 months in Prison Sentence Over Private Messenger Chat

JOINT STATEMENT Immediately Release of Chea Vuthy, Reverse 18 months in Prison Sentence Over Private Messenger Chat Phnom Penh, 20 August 2026- We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are gravely concerned to the verdict delivered on 19 August 2026 by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentencing Mr. Chea Vuthy, a citizen journalist and social activist, to 18 months in prison and fine 2.000.000 Riles (approximately 500 USD) in connection with a message sent in a private Messenger group in August 2025. We call on the relevant authorities to immediately release Chea Vuthy and to drop the charge of “incitem...