Ai Weiwei, China’s most famous artist, has been released on bail after more than two and a half months in custody. “I’m OK,” Mr Ai told the Financial Times. “I’m out and I’m with my family now and happy.”
According to the conditions of his bail, the outspoken artist and political activist is forbidden from speaking to the media. “We can sit here in silence together on the phone but we cannot speak a word,” Mr Ai said.
State media quoted the Beijing police department as saying that the artist was released because of “his good attitude in confessing his crimes” and because he suffers from a “chronic disease”. Mr Ai, 53, has high blood pressure and diabetes.