Standing with Euskadi-Cuba. Defending cooperation, freedom of expression, and an end to the US blockade against Cuba

In mid-February, a case will come to trial in Madrid against the journalist coordinator and legal representation of the Euskadi-Cuba association, owner of the www.cubainformacion.tv website until 2020. The case stems from a criminal complaint seeking six years of jail time and 50,000 euros in compensation for the piece of journalism entitled “Creating a health crisis in Cuba: the aim of a war against medical cooperation”.

The claimant organisation spread falsehoods through media outlets, stating that Euskadi-Cuba receives public funds (Basque Government) to “destabilise Europe and Spain” and “undermine Europe and its institutions”, and claimed that it drew from “cooperation funds” for “intelligence work”, all in reference to the duly-awarded subsidies received for cooperation projects.

This is a smear campaign and attempt to destroy the solidarity cooperation work to develop a NGDO whose projects benefit thousands of families on the island. It is also an exercise in intimidation against critical journalism, which is necessary to understand the realities of Global South countries along with their causes of poverty and inequality that is essential information for change.

That is why we are supporting and standing with the Euskadi-Cuba Association and Cubainformación in its fight for justice, truth, and freedom of expression. We encourage you to take part in the financial support campaign so that legal fees do not make Euskadi-Cuba disappear.

We also demand an end to the economic blockade that, in collaboration with other organisations, the US government applies mercilessly to the Cuban people. This blockade has already been condemned on 31 occasions by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and is the root cause of the severe economic crisis the island is experiencing.

Find more information on the Euskadi-Cuba website.