Ai Weiway returned the passport

The authorities of the PRC returned to the dissident artist Ai Wevewa a passport selected four years ago. This means that he again had the opportunity to travel outside of China.

Today, July 22, Ai Weiwei called from the sixth department of the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC and said that he could pick up his passport, reports Reuters .

The artist explained that now he will be able to leave the country. Whether he will do it or not, will depend on whether other countries will give him entry visas.

“I'm not surprised. - says Ai Wevei. “They promised to return my passport for many years.” And they never said that they would never give him away. True, all this dragged on for four years. "

The PRC did not answer the request to confirm the information about the issuance of a passport to Ai Vayveju.

Ai Weiwei lost his passport in April 2011 during the arrest at the Beijing airport. The artist was accused of tax evasion. After three months of detention in the summer of the same year, he pleaded guilty and was released on bail . According to Ai Weiwei, the criminal case against was opened due to the fact that he criticized the political regime of the PRC.