A Chinese court has upheld a €1.9m fine for tax evasion against the country's most famous dissident, Ai Weiwei.
Ai was barred from attending the hearing relating to his company, which produces art and designs.
Critics accuse Beijing of using the case to muzzle the outspoken artist.
Ai had asked the Chaoyang District court to overturn the city tax office's rejection of his appeal against the tax evasion penalty.
The penalty was imposed on his company Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd.
The artist said that Chinese police barred him from showing up in person, saying that he had "absolutely no hope" the court would rule in his favour.
Ai said "today's verdict shows that this country, more than 60 years after its founding still has no basic legal process."
He continued, "it still has no respect for the truth, still will never give taxpayers and citizens an ability to justify themselves."
"The entire judiciary is shrouded in darkness," he told reporters at his home in northeastern Beijing after the verdict.
He added that he would now sue the Chaoyang court in a higher court.
