Facebooker Lê Minh Vũ is Arrested in Thanh Hóa Province on Charges of Abusing Democratic Freedoms

 

The Vietnamese Magazine | 2026-01-19

A resident of Thanh Hóa Province has been arrested and charged under Article 331 of the Penal Code for allegedly abusing democratic freedoms after using social media to criticize local authorities and officials, according to reporting by Luật Khoa Magazine. 

This article criminalizes the “abuse of the rights to freedom and democracy” when such actions are deemed to infringe upon the interests of the state or the lawful rights of organizations and individuals.

The case has drawn attention as it combines citizen petitions calling for official accountability with criminal prosecution under a broadly defined national security provision.

On Jan. 14, police in Thanh Hóa announced they had initiated criminal proceedings and ordered the temporary detention of 58-year-old Lê Minh Vũ. The authorities allege that between 2023 and 2025, Vũ repeatedly used his personal Facebook account and a related fan page to post content critical of the Communist Party, state institutions, and local leaders. 

According to police statements cited by Luật Khoa Magazine, his posts were said to contain insults, accusations, and unverified claims that allegedly harmed the reputation of officials and negatively affected political security, public order, and social stability.

Notably, some of Vũ’s online activity reportedly involved publicizing petitions and complaints related to perceived shortcomings and misconduct by local authorities.

These posts included calls for disciplinary action against certain leaders and reflections on unresolved grievances at the local level. Investigators, however, characterize such content as hostile and misleading, rather than as lawful expressions of citizen oversight or complaint.

Following his arrest, police searched Vũ’s residence and confiscated documents and electronic materials believed to be connected to the alleged offenses. Authorities are still investigating the case and have not publicly disclosed the specific posts or evidence supporting the charges.

Vũ’s arrest comes amid heightened political sensitivity ahead of Việt Nam’s 14th National Party Congress and upcoming National Assembly elections, periods during which authorities traditionally intensify monitoring of online speech and political expression. Article 331 has frequently been invoked during such times to prosecute bloggers, activists, and social media users who criticize state policies or officials.

Human rights organizations and independent observers have long raised concerns about Article 331, arguing that its vague wording allows for arbitrary enforcement and chills legitimate freedom of expression. They note that activities such as petitioning, criticizing officials, or exposing local governance problems can be reinterpreted as criminal acts when framed as threats to state interests.

State media, meanwhile, have portrayed the arrest as a necessary measure to uphold the law and prevent the spread of harmful information online. Officials argue that misuse of social media undermines public trust and social order, particularly when sensitive political events are approaching.

As legal proceedings continue, the case of Lê Minh Vũ highlights the ongoing tension in Việt Nam between citizens’ use of digital platforms to voice grievances and the state’s restrictive approach to political expression and online dissent.