HANOI: Vietnam today criticised a US State Department award to detained blogger and environmental activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, often referred to by her pen name, “Mother Mushroom”.
Quynh, detained in October for anti-state propaganda, was one of 13 women worldwide to receive an International Women of Courage Award. The awards were presented by First Lady Melania Trump yesterday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said making an award to someone being investigated for breaking Vietnam’s law was “not suitable and beneficial to the development of the two countries’ relationship”.
Reuters