15/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU has called for the immediate release of leading Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned for “inciting subversion of state power”, whose 11-year sentence was upheld by a Beijing court last week. The Chinese authorities hold that he is one of the authors of the Charter 08, which calls for a democratic China. The EU believes that the court's rejection of Liu's appeal “is entirely incompatible with his right to freedom of expression”, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton says in a press release on 12 February. The EU calls for Liu's unconditional release and an end to the harassment and detention of other signatories of Charter 08, Ashton says. (H.B./transl.rt)