European Parliament Members call for EU mediation to release Cuban artists from prison

European Parliament Members call for EU mediation to release Cuban
artists from prison / 14ymedio
Posted on April 25, 2015

14ymedio, Havana, 24 April 2015 — The vice presidents of the Alliance of
Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party of the European Parliament,
Fernando Maura and Pavel Telicka, have asked the High Representative of
the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Frederica
Mogherini, to intervene with the Havana Government for the release from
prison of Angel Santiesteban and Danilo Maldonado. In a letter to
Mogherini, signed by some thirty Eurodeputies, they also call for an end
to the "prolonged confinement" of Tania Bruguera.

In a letter released this Friday, the Eurodeputies ask Mogherini to
mediate for the withdrawal of the charges for "counterrevolutionary
activities" against the regime opponent Antonio Rodiles and his partner
Ailer Gonzalez.

Maura and Telicka argue that "any step in the advancement of
international diplomacy must be accompanied by a demand for a radical
change in Cuban policies that restrict freedom of expression and
imprison dissidents," and they demand that respect for human rights
"prevails" in relations between the European Union and Cuba.

The graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as El Sexto , has been in
prison since last December on charges of contempt and he continues to
wait for trial. He was arrested while trying to stage a performance with
two pigs stamped with the names "Fidel" and "Raul."

The writer Ángel Santiesteban is serving a sentence of five years for an
alleged crime of violation of domicile. However, activists and
independent lawyers have denounced the many irregularities that were
brought to bear during his trial.

Bruguera is currently unable to leave Cuba, because she is being legally
prosecuted for the events arising from her attempt to organize a
performance this last December. Since then, the artist has denounced "a
constant psychological war."

Source: European Parliament Members call for EU mediation to release
Cuban artists from prison / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/european-parliament-members-call-for-eu-mediation/