Vietnam court sentences Y Nuen Ayun to 7 years for sabotaging ethnic unity policy

On 5 August 2026, the People's Court of Dak Lak province sentenced 59‑year‑old Y Nuen Ayun to 7 years and 6 months in prison for destroying the national unity policy. Prosecutors said he founded the covert religious group “West Central Highlands Christian Gospel Church” under the direction of A Ga, a 49‑year‑old dissident living in the United States, and used it to spread false reports, receive over VND 7.7 million, and attempt to create a separate state for ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands. Y Nuen admitted the charges during the trial. The court ruled his actions threatened national security and ethnic harmony, imposing the prison term accordingly.