“As political prisoners and dissident artists, they have challenged the control of the Cuban regime,” the National Endowment for Democracy points out.
14ymedio, Havana, June 23, 2026 / Cuban political prisoners Félix Navarro, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, and Maykel Castillo Osorbo are among the winners of the 2026 Democracy Awards, granted by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The awards, announced this Monday, recognize individuals and organizations from various countries for their defense of fundamental freedoms against repressive regimes.
The U.S. organization reported that the award recipients were chosen for defending freedom of religion, expression, press, assembly, and petition. Regarding the Cuban dissidents, it emphasized their “courage” and noted that “as political prisoners and dissident artists, they have challenged the Cuban regime’s control over public expression.” The NED also stated that they “have inspired greater civic participation and exposed the fear behind state censorship.”
Félix Navarro is serving a nine-year prison sentence, accused of “assault, contempt and public disorder” for events related to the massive popular protests of July 11 and 12, 2021. His daughter Saylí Navarro is also imprisoned, sentenced to eight years, for the same crimes as her father, plus “disobedience”.
Félix Navarro is serving a nine-year prison sentence, accused of “assault, contempt and public disorder”
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement, was arrested on 11 July 2021, just before joining the protests on Havana’s Malecón. He was sentenced to five years in prison for the crimes of desecrating national symbols, contempt, and public disorder, in a closed-door trial. His sentence is scheduled to end on July 9.
Musician Maykel Castillo Osorbo, winner of two Latin Grammy Awards for the song “Patria y Vida” [youtube] was arrested on May 18, 2021. In June 2022, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. The charges included contempt, public disorder, and attacking and defaming institutions, organizations, heroes, and martyrs.
Regarding Otero Alcántara and Castillo Osorbo, Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the Cuban government for using the penal system as a tool to “punish dissident artists and silence their right to freedom of expression.”
Four years after the sentencing of the artists, the organization stressed that both continue to face the consequences of an arbitrary judicial process incompatible with international human rights standards, which “also demonstrates how repression can particularly impact Afro-Cuban people who publicly challenge power.”
The organization stressed that both continue to face the consequences of an arbitrary legal process.
In addition to Cuban activists, the National Endowment for Democracy, founded in 1983, recognized this year the German organization Friede Allen for its support of Russian clergy members opposed to the war in Ukraine. Also recognized were the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, the Ethiopian newspaper Addis Standard, and the pro-democracy community organizers of the so-called Spring Revolution in Burma.
Peter Roskam, chairman of the NED board of directors, noted that “this year’s honorees embody the courage and perseverance needed to defend those rights in their own communities. Their work reminds us that America’s commitment to freedom is strongest when we support those who keep that promise alive.”
The Democracy Awards ceremony is scheduled for September at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic residence in Virginia, USA. The award is a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue erected by protesters during the Tiananmen Square protests in China in 1989.
______________________
COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.