Authorities in Vietnam have arrested one of the country’s most prominent journalists and accused him of “abusing democratic freedoms” by posting articles that “infringed on the interests of the state and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.”

Truong Huy San — known to many by his pen name, Huy Duc — was taken into custody last week, according to a prominent Vietnamese blogger. But there was no official confirmation until Friday, when state news media reported that the Ministry of Public Security was investigating San for his Facebook posts. There were no details on the content of the posts.

Journalists have long been a target for Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, which frequently crushes dissent. But San had for years managed to navigate the small space for independent thought, often publishing articles that criticized the government. His connections with high-level officials were thought to have been a buffer — until now.

— The New York Times