Sittings · Document

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2026/2874(RSP)) 2026-09-14

On Political prisoners in Cuba, in particular the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro

on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Urmas Paet, Malik Azmani, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Engin Eroglu, Hilde Vautmans, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Lucia Yar, Dan Barna, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Petras Auštrevičius, Helmut Brandstätter, Ľubica Karvašová, Benoit Cassart, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová

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✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 18 Sept 2026

Parliament's resolution on political prisoners in Cuba focuses on Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro. It urges the Cuban regime to release all those politically and arbitrarily detained, condemns human rights violations and torture, and demands fair trials, medical care and respect for fundamental freedoms. It calls on the Council to apply the EU Magnitsky Act and adopt targeted sanctions, and reiterates its position on activating the suspension clause of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.

Key points

  1. Notes that the crackdown on dissenting voices in Cuba continues, with a reported 1,339 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in August 2026 facing arbitrary imprisonment, incommunicado detention, threats and punishments, and that their families are increasingly punished.
  2. Recalls that Félix Navarro, a prisoner of the Black Spring in 2003, and Saylí Navarro, co-founder of Ladies in White, were arrested on 12 July 2021 for inquiring about those arrested after the demonstrations of 11 July 2021.
  3. Notes that Félix Navarro is serving a nine-year sentence and Saylí Navarro eight years, that Mr. Navarro was conditionally released in January 2025 but arbitrarily detained in April 2025, and that Saylí Navarro was denied parole and reportedly subjected to reprisals.
  4. Notes that as of September 2026 Félix Navarro has spent 1 year and 4 months in isolation in the infirmary at Agüica Prison, and that on 9 April 2026 he was handcuffed and brutally beaten after a family visit.
  5. Notes that in May 2026 both rejected a forced exile from Cuba proposed by the Catholic Church.
  6. Urges the Cuban regime to immediately and unconditionally release all those politically and arbitrarily detained, in particular Félix and Saylí Navarro, and condemns the systematic human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by the Cuban regime.
  7. Condemns the torture, inhuman, degrading and ill-treatment of political prisoners, reminds State Security and prison authorities of their obligation to guarantee the physical safety of those imprisoned, and calls for immediate access to medical care.
  8. Reiterates its demand for a fair trial and the independence of the judiciary, and for persons deprived of their liberty to have access to an independent lawyer.
  9. Urges the Cuban regime to fully respect human rights and guarantee that all citizens can freely exercise their fundamental freedoms, and calls for the elimination of the Criminal Code's repressive laws.
  10. Calls on the Council to apply the EU Magnitsky Act and adopt targeted and individual sanctions against those responsible for persistent human rights violations in Cuba.
  11. Reiterates its position on activating the suspension clause of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, given the Cuban regime's continuous breaches of the agreement.

Who is affected

  • Félix Navarro and Saylí Navarro, whose release and safety the resolution demands.
  • Political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Cuba, reported at 1,339 in August 2026.
  • The Cuban regime, urged to release detainees, respect human rights and end repressive laws.
  • The Council, asked to apply the EU Magnitsky Act and adopt targeted sanctions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1,339 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience reported in August 2026.
  • Arrest of Félix and Saylí Navarro on 12 July 2021.
  • Demonstrations of 11 July 2021.
  • Nine-year prison sentence for Félix Navarro.
  • Eight-year sentence for Saylí Navarro.
  • Conditional release of Mr. Navarro in January 2025 and arbitrary detention in April 2025.
  • 1 year and 4 months in isolation in the infirmary at Agüica Prison as of September 2026.
  • Beating after a family visit on 9 April 2026.

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