On Sunday, political prisoner Luis Barrios Diaz passed away at the La Covadonga hospital in Havana due to medical negligence by the prison authorities. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) reported that Barrios Díaz, who was 37 years old, began experiencing respiratory issues in August and was admitted to the infirmary of prison 1580 in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana. Despite doctors’ advice for him to remain hospitalized, the prison authorities returned him to prison due to a lack of fuel for constant surveillance. His condition worsened and he died after undergoing emergency surgery for respiratory complications on Saturday.
The OCDH condemned the actions of the Cuban government and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The organization pointed out that other political prisoners such as Félix Navarro and José Daniel Ferrer were also suffering from deteriorating health conditions. The OCDH urged democratic governments and the European Union to take action regarding the serious situation of political prisoners in Cuba, emphasizing that it is the responsibility of the state to provide adequate medical services to prisoners.