Liu Xia left China – and has a standing invitation to Norway

Tuesday, we learn that the artist Liu, 57, left China after eight years of house arrest. She was under house arrest despite the fact that she had not been charged with any crime. Her husband Liu Xiaobo, who received the peace prize in 2010, was jailed by the Chinese authorities in 2009. He remained imprisoned until his death last July.

Liu's release was welcomed by the Nobel Committee. ] – It's something we've been waiting for a long time. She was subjected to great trials and unnecessary suffering despite the fact that she committed no crime, "Berit Reiss-Andersen told the Nobel Committee at NTB.

Arrived in Berlin

The Embassy of Germany offered in April to help Liu travel to Germany.The trip did not take place at that time, but on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has met with his German counterpart Angela Merkel

A day later, a smiling Liu was photographed during a stopover in Helsinki Later on Tuesday afternoon, she arrived in Berlin

Liao Yiwu, Chinese dissident based in Berlin, and the German Nobel Laureate in Literature Herta Müller, accompanied by a dozen others, were waiting for Liu at the airport.But Liu was immediately driven into a black car and she was not Made no statement, reports AFP and DPA news agencies

Norwegian authorities nes are reluctant to comment on the case.

– Neither the Chinese nor German authorities have commented on Liu Xia left China and arrived in Germany, Foreign Ministry spokesman Frode Overland Andersen told NTB

– If the media reports lead to the correction, this is positive.

– Freed because of international pressure. Andersen believes that the release of Liu is the result of prolonged international pressure on the Chinese authorities, and draws particular attention to the efforts of the German Prime Minister.

– Merkel deserves great credit for this to happen. She has been on a consistent line and has had talks with China at a very high level.

The Beijing Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that Liu was going to Germany for "medical treatment of his own free will". During the past year, it was learned that Liu had suffered from antidepressants, had heart problems and had fainting spells.

– China received significant criticism for the treatment of Liu Xiaobo, especially what was perceived as a late reaction. sick and a bad medical offer. I think that much of the reason for Liu's release now comes from the prolonged pressure and death of the husband and no longer constitutes the same problem, "says Henrik Urdal, Institute for Peace Research, NTB

Liu Xiaobo has never had the pleasure of receiving the peace prize Now Reiss-Andersen hopes that the woman will go to Oslo and receive the prize on her behalf.

– We We have already invited it last year and this invitation is provided by law.It is welcome here and we have made the assessment that she is undoubtedly the only close relative and the heir to the spouse, "says Reiss-Andersen, who says that it is up to Liu to decide when and how this will happen.

Norway's relations with China froze after Liu Xiaobo received the Peace Prize in 2010. Relations have been normalized a political statement in which Norway is committed to respect the fundamental interests of China.

– It is natural that the Nobel Committee invite Liu to Norway, all the rest would be strange. On the other hand, one can think that the Norwegian government will also be careful now. Chinese authorities may perceive this as problematic if government officials are present. I would also like to believe that liberation is a calculated risk of Beijing, "said Urdal, stressing that it will probably not be a reaction in 2010.