The European Parliament passed an urgent resolution this Thursday, calling for the immediate release of Cuban dissident Félix Navarro, aged 73, and his daughter Saylí Navarro. Additionally, it urged the suspension of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba if the regime does not make strides towards multiparty democracy.
With 374 votes in favor, 198 against, and 19 abstentions, the resolution was adopted following a plenary debate held on Wednesday in Strasbourg. This marks the most supported statement among the three resolutions the European Parliament has issued concerning Cuba in less than a year.
The resolution unequivocally condemns the systematic human rights violations perpetrated by the Cuban regime against political prisoners and their families, placing the case of the Navarros at the forefront of this denunciation.
Félix and Saylí were arrested on July 11, 2021, in Matanzas after they visited a police station to inquire about other activists detained during the massive anti-government protests on July 11 (11J).
Both were sentenced to nine and eight years in prison, respectively, on charges of "public disorder, assault, and contempt." Amnesty International declared them prisoners of conscience in October 2024.
Félix is serving his sentence at the maximum-security prison of Agüica. He was conditionally released in January 2025 as part of a negotiated agreement involving the Vatican and the U.S. government, but was re-arrested on April 29 of the same year after refusing a forced exile offer.
Saylí, co-founder of the Ladies in White—an organization awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2005—remains at the La Bellotex women's prison in Matanzas, serving her full sentence.
The health situation of both is dire. Félix is afflicted with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic heart issues; in April 2026, he was beaten by Agüica prison guards and transferred to solitary confinement.
Saylí suffers from a severe kidney condition and was sanctioned in May 2026 for publicly denouncing the assault: the authorities at La Bellotex reduced her good behavior sentence reduction from 60 to 30 days.
Three days before the vote, Félix and Saylí Navarro were announced as nominees for the Sakharov Prize 2026 by a committee of former Cuban political prisoners, including Normando Hernández, Pablo Pacheco, and Ángel de Fana.
The resolution also demands individual sanctions against those responsible for the repression, "starting with President Miguel Díaz-Canel," and calls for the repeal of the Cuban Penal Code.
The text further highlights that Cuba continues to hold 1,339 political prisoners, including 155 women, 38 minors, 463 with serious physical illnesses, and 54 with mental disorders who are not receiving adequate medical care.
This resolution is the third major action by the European Parliament regarding Cuba in 2026. In January, the Parliament approved an amendment to suspend privileged cooperation with Havana with 331 votes in favor; in June, a broader resolution with 283 votes demanded sanctions against Díaz-Canel and the leaders of the military business conglomerate GAESA.
The EU's High Representative, Kaja Kallas, admitted before the plenary in May 2026 that the agreement with Cuba "has not yielded the expected results after nearly a decade in force."
Key Questions on EU-Cuba Relations and Human Rights
What prompted the European Parliament to call for the suspension of the EU-Cuba agreement?
The European Parliament urged the suspension due to Cuba's lack of progress towards multiparty democracy and the systematic human rights violations against political prisoners, including Félix and Saylí Navarro.
Why were Félix and Saylí Navarro imprisoned?
Félix and Saylí Navarro were imprisoned on charges of public disorder, assault, and contempt after inquiring about activists detained during the July 11 anti-government protests in Cuba.
What is the Sakharov Prize and its significance?
The Sakharov Prize is awarded by the European Parliament to individuals or groups who have dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. It highlights significant efforts in these areas, like those made by the Ladies in White.