The High Court of Myanmar on Friday rejected the appeal of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the Official Secrets Act in September.

The journalists were arrested in 2017 while investigating military operations in northern Rakhine State.

Judge Aung Naing, in making his decision, found that the defense had failed to sufficient proof that their clients were innocent or that they set-up by Myanmar police. Naing also found that the reporters had exhibited an intent to harm the country, failing to merit in the defense’s argument that it was not proven their clients gathered and collected confidential information, sent it to an enemy of the country, or had the intent to obstruct national security. Naing ultimately found the lower court ruled “according to the law.”

The decision has caused many officials and organizations to speak out, criticizing the country’s status as democratic. CPJ senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin stated that “[This is] yet another opportunity to right the egregious wrong committed against Reuters reporters. Today’s ruling shows that independent journalism is now effectively a crime in Myanmar.” US Vice President Mike Pence called the situation “deeply troubling” and a failure of the “basis test in democracy.” Amnesty International Director of Crisis Response Tirana Hassan called “the decision to keep these…Reuters journalists behind bars plays in the hands of the Myanmar authorities’ attempt to hide the truth about the atrocities committed in Rakhine.” Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler stated in a press release on Friday that the “ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted” upon the two journalists and that “the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar’s commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt.”

As a result of the ruling, the EU on Friday urged Myanmar President Aung San Suu Kyi to review the case.

Both journalists are still able to appeal their conviction to the supreme court.