PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s Supreme Court has upheld the incitement conviction of opposition politician Rong Chhun, a senior adviser to the Nation Power Party, in a ruling issued on Friday that leaves restrictions on his political activities in place while suspending the remainder of his prison sentence, according to court officials and his legal team.
The decision marks the final stage of Rong Chhun’s appeal against a conviction handed down in 2025. He had been found guilty of inciting social unrest after meeting villagers affected by government development projects and later commenting publicly on their situation, according to court records and previous proceedings.
Under the Supreme Court ruling, Rong Chhun will remain barred from participating in politics for five years, including voting and standing for elected office, and will be prohibited from international travel for three years, his lawyer, Em Chantha, told reporters after the hearing. The suspended portion of his sentence means he will not return to prison immediately.
Rong Chhun, 56, had asked the country’s highest court earlier this week to overturn the conviction and restore his political rights. Speaking to supporters outside the courthouse following the hearing, he said he hoped judges would “render justice” and allow him to continue his political activities.
Several hundred supporters gathered near the Supreme Court complex in Phnom Penh during the proceedings, according to media reports. Following Friday’s ruling, some supporters expressed disappointment with the outcome.
The case has drawn attention from rights organizations and political observers, who have argued that legal actions against opposition figures have narrowed political space in Cambodia. Human Rights Watch criticized the verdict and said it reflected concerns about judicial independence. The Cambodian government has repeatedly denied allegations of political interference in court proceedings and maintains that the judiciary operates independently under the law.
Rong Chhun has previously faced legal action. In 2021, he was convicted in a separate case linked to comments about Cambodia’s border with Vietnam before later being released on appeal.
The Supreme Court’s decision is final under Cambodian law. Rong Chhun said after the ruling that he and his legal team would review the judgment and consider whether to seek a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni. Details of any future legal steps remain unclear.
