Liu Xiaobo, 61, a Chinese political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died Thursday, The Guardian reports.
Chinese officials released a statement confirming his death Thursday evening, according to the report.
Mr. Liu was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer in May while serving an 11-year prison sentence. He was convicted and sentenced in 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power" and advocating for political reform in China. Mr. Liu was granted parole from prison and transferred to a hospital to receive medical attention in June.
Mr. Liu's death comes days after The First Hospital of China Medical University in Shengyang released a statement indicating Mr. Liu was in "critical condition." Critics alleged Chinese officials "intentionally shortened … [Mr. Liu's] life" by denying his requests to receive treatment overseas, despite recommendations by German and U.S. cancer specialists and pleas by several world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the report states.
In 2010, Mr. Liu received the Nobel Peace Prize for his "long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China," The New York Times reports.
Editor's note: This is a developing story. Becker's will update the article as more information becomes available.