Forty-five prominent activists in Hong Kong have been sentenced to up to 10 years in jail, sparking criticism from foreign governments and rights groups.

The activists were arrested over a single day in 2021 and charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” for taking part in an unofficial primary election.

A Hong Kong court has begun sentencing more than 40 of the city’s best known pro-democracy figures on charges of subversion in the largest national security trial to date following Beijing’s sweeping crackdown on dissent in the once free-wheeling city.