(Photo: CGTN)

China Central Television (CCTV) on Thursday extended support to its journalist Kong Linlin, who was sued by a man called Enoch Lieu at a Birmingham court in the UK, saying CCTV will support Kong in safeguarding her legitimate rights.

A CCTV spokesperson said in a statement that CCTV Europe has taken a note of the case and stressed that it's indeed the perpetrator that has dragged the victim to court. 

On September 30, during an annual session of the Human Rights Commission of the UK Conservative Party, a fringe event was organized on Hong Kong inviting so-called independence activists and organizers of the illegal Occupy Central movement. 

Kong expressed her views while raising questions at the event after which she was obstructed and physically harassed by Lieu.

The British police released Kong shortly after the incident under growing pressure from the Chinese Embassy in the UK. 

The police confirmed physical assault on Kong and released her without any charge. 

In the statement, CCTV spokesperson said it hopes the parties concerned in the UK will not be influenced by political forces. It urged the UK side to make a fair judgment based on facts and protect the legitimate rights of the Chinese journalist.

CCTV supports Kong Linlin's right of counterclaims, the statement said.