Javier Larrea Formoso, a Cuban lawyer and animal rights activist who founded Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC), revealed on Wednesday that the Cuban General Consulate in Madrid has unjustly refused to renew his passport, along with those of two other activists.
Larrea took to Instagram to share his ordeal, stating: "I publicly denounce that the Castroist consulate refuses to issue my passport. Not just to me, but to two other activists as well. This is a violation, and I will escalate it to the UN if necessary."
In a direct statement to this publication, Larrea elaborated: "The Cuban consulate has arbitrarily denied the renewal of my Cuban passport. I have reported this to the police. Please help me shed light on this injustice."
Larrea identified Lázaro Mireles, an opposition figure, as one of the affected individuals. Mireles, who leads Acciones por la Democracia in Spain and is a frequent participant in protests outside Cuban diplomatic missions in Madrid, shared his experience on Facebook, stating: "The Castro-Communist consulate refused to attend to me today. They will see me again tomorrow."
The issue at hand is not a trivial matter. The Cuban passport serves as the sole valid identification for Cuban citizens abroad and is essential in Spain for residency, family reunification, and nationality applications. Renewing it in Madrid costs 200 euros, as per the Cuban Official Gazette dated September 30, 2026.
This situation is not isolated. Activist and communicator Magdiel Jorge Castro recounted a recent intimidating experience at the same consulate: "They asked for my relative's address in Cuba, phone number, and many other details. In my case, a state security agent awaited me with my passport in hand and a folder containing my printed publications, attempting to intimidate me. It was a very unpleasant experience."
The consulate's pattern of behavior has been documented before. Lázaro Mireles was expelled from the consulate in February 2019 while seeking information on passport renewal after participating in the "March of the Prohibited." A vice-consul refused to assist him, claiming he was "attacking" Cuba. In January 2025, activist Avana de la Torre reported that consulate officials were photographing passports for intimidation purposes.
Having left Cuba in August 2023 to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Larrea warned that he would bring the case to the UN if no resolution is provided. From Spain, he continues to lead BAC, Cuba's largest independent animal protection network, founded in January 2020, which has faced ongoing harassment from Cuban authorities.
Key Issues Regarding Cuban Passport Renewals
Why was Javier Larrea's passport renewal denied by the Cuban consulate?
The Cuban consulate in Madrid arbitrarily refused to renew Javier Larrea's passport, as well as those of two other activists, without providing specific reasons. Larrea considers this a violation of rights, possibly due to his activism.
What is the significance of the Cuban passport for citizens abroad?
The Cuban passport is the only valid identification for Cuban citizens living outside the island. It is crucial for legal processes in countries like Spain, including residency applications, family reunification, and applying for nationality.
How has the Cuban consulate previously interacted with activists?
The consulate has a documented history of rejecting and intimidating activists, including expelling individuals seeking passport renewals and photographing personal documents to exert pressure.