Senator Menendez on Yoani Sanchez's Arrest

Statement

US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to reports that Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has been detained by the police in Bayamo, Cuba where she planned to cover the trial of Angel Carromero, the Spanish politician who was driving the car in the fatal crash that killed Cuban dissident and pro-democracy activist Oswaldo Paya earlier this year. Paya's family believes that the car was intentionally forced off the road and that Carromero is being falsely charged to prevent him from talking about the crash.

"Yoani Sanchez's arrest is disconcerting and highlights both the unrelenting censorship and oppression of journalists in Cuba, as well as the extreme efforts being taken by the regime to obscure the facts about the crash that killed dissident Oswlado Paya. By arresting her, the Cuban government sought to censor Yoani's valued voice and prevent coverage of the case by independent reporters. In response, I urge the media and international community to cover the case, join in condemning Yoani's arrest, call for the end of censorship and oppression in Cuban, and demand a full and unbiased investigation into the death of Oswaldo Paya."

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