Vietnam state media has confirmed the arrest of the director of an independent energy policy thinktank – the sixth expert working on environmental issues to be taken into custody in the past two years.
Nhien is a researcher who has worked with a number of international organisations including the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank.On Sunday, state media reported police had issued an arrest warrant on 20 September over charges of “appropriating documents”.
Should she be charged, she faces up to up five years in prison, according to the country’s criminal code.Nhien was working on the implementation plan for Vietnam’s just energy transition partnership , a $15bn G7-funded project to help wean Vietnam off fossil fuels, according to freedom of expression group the 88 Project last month.