The United States has denounced an 11-year sentence handed to a US journalist by Myanmar's military regime and demanded his release.
Danny Fenster, who had been working for local outlet Frontier Myanmar for around a year, was arrested in May as he tried to leave the country to see his family.
The 37 year old who has been detained in Yangon's notorious Insein prison since his arrest in May.
He has been sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of unlawful association, incitement and breaching visa rules, his employer said.
"We strongly condemn the regime's sentencing of Danny Fenster. The ruling today represents an unjust conviction of an innocent person," a State Department spokesperson said.
"We are closely monitoring Danny's situation and will continue to work for his immediate release," he said.
"Journalism is not a crime. Free and independent media is indispensable to building prosperous, resilient and free societies. "
Danny Fenster, who had been working for local outlet Frontier Myanmar for around a year, was arrested in May as he tried to leave the country to see his family.
In a statement Danny's employer said: "Frontier Myanmar is deeply disappointed at the decision today to convict its Managing Editor, Danny Fenster, on three charges and impose prison sentences totalling 11 years."
Mr Fenster's sentence was confirmed to Reuters by lawyer Than Zaw Aung, who provided no further details.
It was handed down for incitement and breaches of immigration laws and unlawful associations laws, Frontier Myanmar, said.
New, more serious charges of sedition and violations of the terrorism act were added earlier this week, which are punishable each by a maximum 20 years in prison.
"There is absolutely no basis to convict Danny of these charges," said Thomas Kean, Frontier Myanmar's editor-in-chief.
"Everyone at Frontier is disappointed and frustrated at this decision. We just want to see Danny released as soon as possible so he can go home to his family."
The United States has been pushing for Mr Fenster's release.
The US embassy in Myanmar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesman for the ruling military council could not immediately be reached.
Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in February that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
More than 1,200 civilians have been killed and scores of journalists are among thousands who have been detained amid a backlash to military rule, according to activists cited by the United Nations.
In remarks prior to his sentencing, which was not publicly announced, the US State Department said: "The profoundly unjust nature of Danny's detention is plain for all the world to see. The regime should take the prudent step of releasing him now."
