Journalist Huy Duc Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for “Abusing Democratic Freedoms”

On February 27, 2025, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced journalist and author Truong Huy San — also known by his pen name Osin Huy Duc — to 30 months in prison for "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals," as stipulated in Article 331, Clause 2 of Vietnam's Penal Code. 

The court found that between 2015 and 2024, Truong Huy San independently collected information and published numerous articles on his personal Facebook account, "Truong Huy San (Osin Huy Duc)." Thirteen of these posts were found to contain content that infringed upon state interests and the legitimate rights of various organizations and individuals. These posts garnered significant interaction, comments, and shares, negatively affecting national security, public order, and social safety. 

From Tuoi Tre News, during the trial, Huy Duc admitted to authoring the posts and acknowledged that some content infringed upon the interests of the State and the rights of certain organizations and individuals. He expressed regret and stated that he did not intend to oppose the Party or the State. In his final statement, Huy Duc requested leniency, hoping for a reduced sentence to allow future participation in social activities.

Huy Duc, 64, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, is a prominent journalist and author known for his critical commentary on Vietnamese politics. His arrest in June 2024 and subsequent sentencing have drawn attention to issues of press freedom and the use of legal provisions to suppress dissenting voices in Vietnam.

PEN America and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have both condemned the Vietnamese government's actions against Huy Duc.

PEN America denounced his indictment and called for his immediate release, emphasizing that silencing a journalist undermines society's right to truth and accountability. Similarly, CPJ urged Vietnam to drop all charges against him, highlighting that his independent political reporting was an exercise of democratic freedoms, not an abuse. Both organizations criticized using Article 331 of Vietnam's Penal Code to suppress free expression and dissenting voices.