Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on the arrest of peaceful protestors during the protests in 2021 in that country.

Many protestors including minors remain detained in Cuba following protests in July 2021. The UK Government has raised the ongoing detentions directly with the Cuban Government, both in London and Havana. We are clear that all Cubans should have the right to protest peacefully, and that detention must not be used as a tool to restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. The UK was one of the first countries to call for the Cuban people to be allowed to express their views freely and peacefully following the Cuban government's response to the July protests. We are concerned that lengthy prison sentences are being handed down to discourage any further peaceful protests and that the Cuban Government refused permission for protests in November. We have also urged the Cuban Government to ensure transparency in judicial proceedings, and ensure appropriate conditions for those held on violent crimes charges. We continue to monitor the situation closely.