By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News Service

(Eagle News) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says two Canadian businessmen arrested in China nearly three years ago are on their way back to Canada.

“These two men have gone through an unbelievably difficult ordeal,” Trudeau said Friday. “It is good news for all of us that they are on their way home to their families.”

Their release came just hours after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was released from house arrest and allowed to return home to China.

Trudeau says Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being accompanied on the flight home by Canada’s ambassador to China, Dominic Barton.

The two were detained just days after Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver in December 2018.

Earlier this year, both were found guilty of espionage. Spavor received an 11-year sentence. Kovrig was awaiting sentencing.

China denies the arrests were connected to Wanzhou’s case.

Wanzhou was arrested on a U.S. warrant.

After reaching a deal today to settle her case with U.S. authorities, she flew back to China.

(Eagle News Service)