Associates of Chinese writer Ran Yunfei say the prominent dissident has been released and is back at his home in southwestern China after six months in detention.

Lawyers and friends say Ran remains confined to his home in the city of Chengdu and still faces subversion charges which were leveled in March. His wife told a news agency it is “not convenient” for him to talk to reporters, suggesting he has been forbidden from doing so.

The friends say Ran was released on Tuesday evening. Earlier that day, prominent artist Ai Weiwei called for the public to support Ran and another dissident in one of his first Twitter messages since his own release from detention in June.

Ran and Ai were among dozens of activists, dissidents and lawyers who were arrested or disappeared earlier this year as pro-democracy uprisings were spreading across the Middle East. The writer has long been an outspoken advocate for free speech.