He had been in Brussels since 22 March 1871 when in the 27 May issue of the Belgian newspaper l’Indépendance Victor Hugo denounced the government's refusal to grant political asylum to the Communards threatened with imprisonment, banishment or execution.
自1871年3月22日起，他在布鲁塞尔，他在5月27日比利时报纸《独立报》上谴责政府拒绝为遭到监禁、流放和处决的公社成员提供政治庇护。