Release nears

One of China's most well-known critics and activists is set to be released from prison in the coming days, but it seems his wife isn't expecting their lives to change for the better.

Hu Jia, a prominent activist and blogger jailed over activities critical of the government, will end his 3.5-year prison term this weekend. His wife reportedly flew to Beijing Monday from her home in Shenzhen, to visit Hu Jia, and she briefly went missing. Zeng Jinyan, Hu Jia's wife, later said on Twitter and elsewhere that she had been detained by eight security agents, and it was clear that her normal life was about to change.

Other prominent dissidents who have been released from prison in recent years have been put under virtual house arrest, trailed and in the case of blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng, allowed no freedom of movement whatsoever.