Ricardo González Alfonso

By María Salazar-Ferro/Coordinator, Impunity Campaign and Journalist Assistance Program

In 2010, following midsummer negotiations between the Catholic Church and the government of President Raúl Castro, Cuban authorities began releasing imprisoned journalists, sending them into forced exile with their families. In April 2011, the last of more than 20 journalists arrived in Spain. They had been granted liberty and respite, and were promised support from Spanish authorities while they settled into the new country. But almost two years after the first crop of journalists arrived in Spain, the four who remain in the country are living under extremely difficult conditions, struggling even to feed themselves.

New York, July 12, 2010—Imprisoned Cuban journalists are expected to be among a group of political prisoners to be released tonight and put on a flight to Spain, where they are due to arrive on Tuesday morning, according to international press reports and CPJ interviews. The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes news of their scheduled release and urged Cuban authorities today to free all journalists who remain in jail.

Top Developments
• Vibrant blogging culture emerges despite severe Internet restrictions.
• Jailed journalists suffer amid inhumane conditions.

By Maria Salazar/Americas Senior Research Associate

The utility company had just cut off the electricity supply to his house. Darkness and shadows were back in Alejandro Gonzalez Raga's life. His rented apartment in Madrid--shared with his wife, siblings, and in-laws--was as devoid of light as the Cuban cells in which he was jailed for five years after Castro´s "Ofensiva 2" operation in March 2003, also known as the "Black Spring." Even so, Gonzalez Raga came to the presentation of Attacks on the Press 2008 at the Madrid Press Association.

By Borja Bergareche/CPJ Europe Consultant

The utility company had just cut off the electricity supply to his house. Darkness and shadows were back in Alejandro Gonzalez Raga's life. His rented apartment in Madrid--shared with his wife, siblings, and in-laws--was as devoid of light as the Cuban cells in which he was jailed for five years after Castro´s "Ofensiva 2" operation in March 2003, also known as the "Black Spring." Even so, Gonzalez Raga came to the presentation of Attacks on the Press 2008 at the Madrid Press Association.

By Carlos Lauria, Monica Campbell, and María Salazar

Five years after the Castro government cracked down on the independent press, more than 20 journalists remain behind bars for the crime of free expression.