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The Organization of American States (OAS) urged on Tuesday for the restoration of democracy in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, demanded the release of all political prisoners, and called for respect for human rights in all three countries during the 56th General Assembly of the organization, held in Panama City.
In a consensus statement, the organization expressed its concern about the political situation in those countries and emphasized the need to ensure adherence to the democratic principles and human rights that underpin the inter-American system.
"The detention of individuals for political reasons is incompatible with the commitments undertaken by States within the inter-American framework," stated the OAS, which also reminded that Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua are geographically part of the hemispheric community.
The organization was emphatic in stating that "there is no place for political persecution or incarceration based on opinions or dissent in the Americas," while demanding the unconditional release of all individuals imprisoned for political reasons.
The statement also emphasized the importance of preserving democratic systems that allow citizens to freely express their will, participate in public life, and fully exercise their fundamental rights.
During the first plenary session of the Assembly, the member states also approved a specific resolution on Nicaragua in which they condemned the "widespread and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" committed in that country, warning that some of these acts could constitute, prima facie, crimes against humanity.
The text referred to the death in state custody of Miskito indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera, which occurred on May 30, 2026, after more than 32 months of arbitrary detention, despite the precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the provisional measures ordered by the Inter-American Court.
The OAS also expressed its "deep concern" over the institutional deterioration in Nicaragua, which it attributed to the elimination of the separation of powers and the progressive weakening of democratic order. In this context, it urged the government of Daniel Ortega to respect freedom of expression and religion, as well as to put an end to measures aimed at stripping its nationals of their citizenship.
Despite the criticism, the organization reiterated its willingness to keep dialogue channels open and invited Nicaragua to rejoin the OAS, from which it officially withdrew in 2023.
The General Secretariat also expressed its willingness to support initiatives aimed at expanding democratic spaces, promoting political dialogue, accompanying electoral processes, and contributing to the reconstruction of institutional trust in the region, while emphasizing that lasting solutions must emerge from processes led by the national actors themselves.
The statement received support from sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, which from Caracas endorsed the OAS's call to restore democracy and free political prisoners in the three countries.
The situation in Cuba was also present in the debates of the Assembly. Activists Carolina Barrero and José Daniel Ferrer participated on Monday in the dialogue space with civil society, where they denounced the repression exercised by the Cuban regime and called for greater international commitment to a democratic transition on the island.
Barrero questioned the 176 economic measures announced by the Cuban government on June 18, describing them as a "theater of illusions" that, in his opinion, does not address the lack of fundamental freedoms faced by the population.
For his part, Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), stated before representatives from the continent that "the tragedy endured by the Cuban people must come to an end" and urged governments in the region to demand the cessation of repression and support a democratic transition in the country.
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