The Cuban lawyer and activist Javier Larrea Formoso, founder of Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC), reported on Wednesday that the General Consulate of Cuba in Madrid arbitrarily denied him the renewal of his passport, along with that of two other activists.
Larrea made it public through his Instagram account, where he wrote: "I publicly denounce that the Castro consulate does not want to give me my passport. To me and two other activists. This is a violation, and I will take it to the UN if necessary."
In direct statements to this outlet, the activist was more specific: “The Cuban consulate has denied me the renewal of my Cuban passport. Arbitrarily. I have already reported it to the police. Please help me raise awareness about this injustice.”
Larrea identified the opposition member Lázaro Mireles as one of those affected. Mireles, president of Actions for Democracy in Spain and a frequent figure at protests outside Cuban diplomatic representations in Madrid, posted the same day a story on Facebook from the consulate: "They didn't want to assist me at the Castro communist consulate today, they will see my face again tomorrow."
What is at stake is no small matter. The Cuban passport is the only valid identity document for citizens of the island abroad, and it is essential in Spain for residency processes, family reunification, and nationality applications. Its renewal in Madrid costs 200 euros, a fee set by the Cuban Official Gazette on September 30, 2026.
The case of Larrea and Mireles is not isolated. Activist and communicator Magdiel Jorge Castro recounted an intimidating experience at the same consulate that occurred recently: "They asked me for the address of a relative in Cuba, a phone number, and many other details. In my case, a state security agent was waiting for me with my passport in hand and a folder with my printed publications in the other, trying to intimidate me. It was a terrible experience."
The pattern has documented precedents. Lázaro Mireles was expelled from the consulate in February 2019 while trying to inquire about the renewal of his passport after participating in the "March of the Forbidden"; a vice-consul refused to assist him, claiming that he was "attacking" Cuba. In January 2025, activist Avana de la Torre reported that consulate officials were photographing passports for intimidating purposes.
Larrea, who emigrated from Cuba in August 2023 to pursue graduate studies at the University of Santiago de Compostela, warned that he will take the case to the UN if he does not receive a response. From Spain, he has continued to lead BAC, the largest independent animal protection network in Cuba, which he founded in January 2020 and which the island's authorities have systematically harassed.
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