Authorities in Shaanxi will release lawyer Zhu Jiuhu this week, said friend and Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng .
Mr Gao said an official of Yulin city told him yesterday that Mr Zhu would be released by Tuesday.
Mr Zhu was detained in May for helping private investors in Shaanxi seek compensation from the government. The investors claimed the government took over their oilfields in 2003, but offered far less compensation than they deserved.
According to the official, Mr Zhu would be released to the Beijing Justice Bureau or the Beijing Lawyers Association.
'The official told me, 'You guys have been kicking up dirt everywhere. We are going to release Zhu Jiuhu',' said Mr Gao. 'This is good news. But we are worried because they are used to going back on their word.'
Mr Gao said he would continue his investigation in Shaanxi because at least 12 people - mostly investors - were still detained. He had been told six would be sentenced for disruption of public order and the rest would be sent to re-education camps.
