Six freed Cuban journalists arrive in Spain

Six Cuban journalists who spent more than seven years in prison arrived in Spain today in the first of what is expected to be a series of releases of political prisoners by the Cuban government.
The Committe to Protect Journalists said the Associated Press reported that journalists Léster Luis González Pentón, Omar Ruíz Hernández, Julio César Gálvez Rodríguez, José Luis García Paneque, and Pablo Pacheco Avila arrived at Barajas airport aboard an Air Europa flight. Journalist Ricardo González Alfonso arrived on separate Iberia flight, AP said.
The Catholic Church in Havana announced last week that the government of Raúl Castro had agreed to release a total of 52 political prisoners. Church and Spanish government officials had sought release of the prisoners in negotiations with the Havana government.

• Prior to today’s release, CPJ research had identified 21 journalists in Cuban prisons for their independent reporting and commentary.

Freed Cuban journalists to be flown to Spain

Imprisoned Cuban journalists are expected to be among a group of political prisoners to be freed tonight and put on a flight to Spain, where they are due to arrive on Tuesday morning, according to international press reports and Committe to Protect Journalists interviews.
The CPJ said it welcomes news of their scheduled release and urged Cuban authorities today to free all journalists who remain in jail.
Statements issued by the Catholic Church in Cuba, which has been negotiating for the release of the prisoners, have identified 20 political detainees who are to be released imminently.
The statement identified the following 10 journalists as among those to be released: Normando Hernández González, Julio César Gálvez Rodríguez, Omar Ruíz Hernández, Mijail Bárzaga Lugo, Ricardo González Alfonso, Alfredo Pulido López, José Ubaldo Izquierdo, Léster Luis González Pentón, Pablo Pacheco Avila, and José Luis García Paneque.

CPJ: 'Hope that Cuban journalists ordeal will end'

Three independent Cuban journalists - José Luis García Paneque, Pablo Pacheco Ávila, and Lester Luis González Pentón - imprisoned during the 2003 crackdown against the political opposition and the press, are among the five dissidents to be released soon, according to news reports.
They will be sent to Spain as part of an agreement between the government of President Raúl Castro and the Catholic Church, the reports say.
“We’re anxiously awaiting the release of our colleagues and we’re following the developments closely day to day,” said Carlos Lauría, the Committee to Protect Journalists' senior program coordinator for the Americas. “These journalists and their families have suffered terribly. We’re hoping to finally see an end to their ordeal.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Cuba’s Roman Catholic Church said Castro had agreed to promptly release five political prisoners, who will leave for Spain with their families. The church’s statement said that 47 other dissidents will be freed over a three- to four-month period.