What changed

B100441/2025

B100438/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the arbitrary detention of EU citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea

(2025/2904(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rules 150(5)the andUniversal 136(4)Declaration of itsHuman RulesRights of Procedure,1948,

whereas Spanish citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta were detained without formal charges on 22 January 2025 in connection with allegations of bribery and fraud against their employer, and were later transferred on 7 April 2025 to the Black Beach prison, a facility known for its inhumane conditions and systematic human rights violations;

having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas, considering current diplomatic tensions between Spain and Equatorial Guinea, the detention of both men can be considered a politically motivated pressure tactic, particularly as they are simple employees without any decision-making power;

Whereas the Spanish citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta, were arrested in January 2025 in Equatorial Guinea, in connection with illegal commissions related to a Digital Terrestrial Television (TDT) project;

whereas both men were placed in retaliatory isolation and denied access to their lawyers and families, following the illegal interception of their private conversations with Spanish diplomats

Whereas they have been in pretrial detention since then in the Black Beach prison, which is known for inhumane conditions and serious human rights violations; whereas they have been denied all contact with their families and lawyer;

whereas neither at the time of their detention nor subsequently were either men informed of their charges;

Whereas Javier Marañón has been on hunger strike for over a month in protest against his isolation, extortion, and humiliation by prison authorities; whereas his health is critical;

whereas the health of both men is severely compromised, especially by pre-existing chronic illnesses that are life-threatening in the inhumane prison conditions; whereas, furthermore, Mr Marañón is on the verge of death following a prolonged hunger strike;

whereas the escalating diplomatic tension between Spain and Equatorial Guinea; whereas the Government of Equatorial Guinea accuses the Spanish judiciary of persecuting several members of the Equatorial Guinea government; whereas Spain is conducting multiple judicial proceedings against senior officials of the government of Equatorial Guinea, including Carmelo Ovono Obiang, son of the president, for alleged offenses including torture, kidnapping, and money laundering;

whereas the the judiciary in Equatorial Guinea is subordinated to the executive, with arbitrary detentions widely used to suppress political opposition;

Calls on the Equatorial Guinean authorities to end Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta’s prolonged detention without trial and to ensure due process without undue delay before an independent and impartial court;

whereas the regime in Equatorial Guinea is responsible for one of Africa's worst human rights situations, while systemic corruption ensures that the nation's immense oil wealth benefits a small elite, leaving the majority of the population in extreme poverty;

Calls on the authorities to comply with the legal time limits for holding a person in pre-trial detention; stresses that pre-trial detention should remain exceptional, justified only by necessity and proportionate to the circumstances; highlights that according to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the right to a speedy trial serves to avoid uncharged people being held for prolonged periods in detention;

whereas Equatorial Guinea is strengthening its ties with Russia, as part of a wider trend of Russian influence in Africa;

Calls on the judicial authorities to uphold and respect its international obligations under the African Commission on Human Rights and People's Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Equatorial Guinea is a party, and notably Article 14 thereof on the right to a fair and timely trial before independent courts of law and based on clear charges and ensuring the respect of the defendants’ rights;

Urges the Equatorial Guinean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta;

Requests that adequate prison conditions be guaranteed for the detainees, in accordance with international human rights standards and norms of humane treatment, in particular access to proper medical care, sufficient and safe food, appropriate hygiene conditions, communication with their families, and legal assistance, ensuring that their physical and psychological integrity is preserved throughout the entire period of detention;

Demands that Mr. Marañón be granted urgent and adequate medical evacuation and treatment to save his life, and that his safety be guaranteed;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Equatorial Guinea authorities.

Condemns in the strongest possible terms the inhumane treatment, extortion, and denial of legal counsel suffered by both citizens;

Denounces the lack of judicial independence, the contempt for the rule of law, and the systematic use of arbitrary detention by the authorities in Equatorial Guinea;

Expresses grave concern about the climate of impunity in Equatorial Guinea and stresses the need that those responsible for these and other serious human rights violations are held accountable;

Calls on the VP/HR and the the EEAS, in close coordination with the Spanish authorities, to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the immediate release of Mr. Marañón and Mr. Ballesta and to raise their cases at the upcoming Annual EU-AU Human Rights Dialogue;

Urges Equatorial Guinea to sign the Samoa Agreement;

Encourages the opening of an EU “antenna” office in Equatorial Guinea;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the authorities of the Kingdom of Spain, the authorities of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the African Union, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.