Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 22: Tibetan human rights defender Tsering Tso has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Trikha (Ch. Guide) County People’s Court in Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Amdo, eastern Tibet, on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague offence frequently used by Chinese authorities to silence dissent, according to reports from Tibet Times, a Dharamshala-based Tibetan media outlet.
The verdict was delivered on December 9, 2025. The court ruled that the one-year sentence would be suspended for a period of two years, placing Tsering Tso under probation. Despite the suspension, she remains under strict surveillance and movement restrictions, while her efforts to legally challenge the ruling have reportedly been met with serious procedural obstacles.
According to information received by TT, she has submitted complete appeal documents to the Tsolho (Hainan) Intermediate People’s Court, seeking a review of what she has described as an “unjust” verdict. However, her appeal has yet to be processed, raising concerns over the denial of due process and possible judicial collusion.
Following the sentencing, the Dharkar District People’s Court issued a written ruling outlining a series of mandatory conditions that Tsering Tso must strictly observe during the two-year probation period. Citing Article 75 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, the court stated that she must observe the constitution and administrative laws, submit to supervision, report her activities as required by investigative authorities, comply with restrictions on receiving visitors, and obtain prior approval before leaving her city or county of residence or seeking medical treatment. The court warned that any violation of these conditions would result in further punishment under Article 77, Clause 2 of the Criminal Law.
Tsering Tso has categorically rejected the charge against her. In response to her refusal to accept the verdict, the Dharkar District People’s Court reportedly stated that, since she did not comply with the ruling, her appeal documents would be transferred to a higher court. However, she later revealed that she independently submitted all appeal materials through the China National People’s Court online service platform to the Tsolho Intermediate People’s Court.
“The Dharkar District People’s Court has repeatedly and unlawfully pressured me to admit guilt without following proper legal procedures,” she said in a written statement. “This constitutes a disregard for the country’s constitution, and therefore I have completely refused to accept the charge.”
She further accused the authorities of obstructing her right to appeal, warning that any collusion between the intermediate and lower courts would amount to a violation of national law. “According to the law, once an appeal letter has been submitted, the Intermediate People’s Court itself must convene a court session,” she said. “I request that the appeal hearing be conducted publicly and that observers be allowed to witness the entire process.”
Tsering Tso has been a vocal critic of discriminatory practices and abuses by Chinese authorities against Tibetans since around 2015. Known for documenting and speaking out against unlawful conduct by investigators and government officials, she has been subjected to multiple detentions over the years.
On December 19, 2023, Tsering Tso and a friend were arbitrarily stopped and searched while driving to Darchen County in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. After she shared details of the incident on social media, authorities accused her of refusing to cooperate with investigators and of posting videos that allegedly “distorted facts” and disrupted public and online order. She was subsequently detained for about a week.
Earlier incidents include her detention in Lhasa on November 1, 2022, for more than ten days for allegedly violating COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and her detention on October 26, 2023, in Kyegudo (Ch. Yushu) for approximately fifteen days on accusations of spreading false information online.
