Vice President of Cuba's Supreme Court Defends Revocation of Parole for José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro

Maricela Sosa Ravelo, the Vice President of Cuba's Supreme People's Court, has defended the decision to revoke the parole of Cuban dissidents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro. She justified the move by citing alleged violations of the conditions set after their early release from prison. During a televised statement, Sosa Ravelo clarified that although Ferrer and Navarro's meetings with the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Havana and their "defiant" social media posts were not the direct reasons for the revocation, these actions would be subject to investigation by other relevant authorities.

"These individuals have persistently engaged in provocative social media activity and in their social environment, inciting disorder and defiance against the authorities. They have also met with the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires... It will be up to the pertinent authorities to investigate them and compile the necessary files," she stated.

The action against Ferrer and Navarro comes just months after they were granted early release benefits, part of a judicial policy that, according to official figures, benefited 553 individuals convicted of various offenses between January and March. However, the regime maintains that both dissidents violated the terms of their release.

The Specific Allegations Against Ferrer and Navarro

José Daniel Ferrer, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), is accused of failing to appear before the enforcement judge of the Santiago de Cuba Municipal People's Court on January 28 and February 7. Ferrer himself publicly declared on social media that he would not attend the court to validate what he considers an illegitimate process.

On the other hand, Félix Navarro, a 72-year-old former prisoner of the Group of 75 and leader of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy, was accused of leaving his municipality without permission on seven occasions, violating the conditions set by the court following his release. "In blatant disregard for the law, he left his municipality seven times without seeking authorization from the enforcement judge of the Perico Municipal People's Court," stated the regime's official note, disseminated by state media.

Political Motivations Behind Legal Actions

Despite the legalistic language employed by authorities, human rights organizations and numerous citizens on social media argue that the revocation is politically motivated, aimed at silencing dissenting voices. Critical messages have labeled the measure as "arbitrary use of the law," "institutionalized repression," and the regime's "bargaining chip."

Journalist José Raúl Gallego wrote, "They are hitmen. They create the law to suit their needs and use it as they please. They revoke them to silence them and use them again as bargaining chips."

The measure has even sparked disapproval from diplomatic circles. The U.S. Department of State has condemned what it sees as the unjust detention and harsh treatment of Ferrer, his family, Navarro, and other pro-democracy activists. Meanwhile, the regime does not hide the political undertones of the action. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos F. de Cossio tweeted that Cuba has "the right to defend itself against U.S. aggression" and accused the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana of acting as an activist encouraging Cubans against their government.

Both opposition leaders have long been pivotal figures in the Cuban democratic movement, and their incarceration once again highlights the use of the judicial system as a political control mechanism.