First Cuban political exiles arrive in Prague

The first of 10 exiled Cuban families whom the Czech Republic has agreed to grant political asylum landed at Prague airport on Tuesday. Dissident Rolando Jiménez Posada and his family were welcomed by Interior Minister Radek John and representatives of the charity People In Need. The Czech Republic and Spain are currently the only European countries that have agreed to take the families, according to the ministry. Mr Posada was one of 53 dissidents released by the Cuban government. He said in Prague that the gesture was meaningless since he had been punished for nothing apart from fighting for his rights. The Czech Republic has long been one of Europe’s fiercest critics of the Cuban regime.

Author: Chris Johnstone