Twelve Cuban Nationals Released from Bolivian Airport Detention

The Bolivian judicial system has mandated the release of 12 out of 17 Cuban citizens who were held at Santa Cruz's Viru Viru International Airport, accused of allegedly carrying fake visas. Among the released is Orlidia Barceló, an independent journalist with the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP), who claims to be a victim of political persecution in Cuba.

This legal decision came after Bolivian citizen Hernán Guerra, married to a Cuban, hired attorney José Cardona to file a motion for the freedom of 12 of the detainees. According to Cardona, five of the Cuban nationals declined the asylum request, whereas the remaining 12 expressed their intent to seek refuge in Bolivia.

Prior to their release, ICLEP had raised alarms about the "imminent risk" of these individuals being forcibly removed and covertly deported back to Cuba, where they could face persecution and retaliation. In an audio released by ICLEP, Barceló reported that the detainees had been "stripped of their belongings" and confined in a room at the airport.

The journalist recounted that when officials attempted to remove them from the premises, the group barricaded themselves in one of the airport's rooms where they had been staying since their arrival, to prevent the transfer.

Now, the 12 individuals are preparing to formalize their asylum applications in Bolivia. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has publicly called for asylum to be granted to Barceló, while ICLEP has urged Bolivian authorities to ensure their safety, due process, and adherence to international refugee protection standards.

The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that all 17 Cubans have expressed a desire to apply for political asylum and has urged the government to comply with the international treaties it has signed, including the Refugee Statute, as well as with the country's Constitution and international protection laws.