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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Veronica Mayer
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 (703) 566-3041

SILVERIO PORTAL RELEASED FROM CUBAN PRISON

GLA Network Lawyer Filed Several Appeals Critical in Portal’s Release

Alexandria, Virginia – One week ago today, the wife of Cuban political prisoner Silverio
Portal Contreras announced that he had been released on medical parole for health reasons.
Unlawfully held in prison since 2018 on a four-year sentence for “public disorder,” Mr. Portal
lost sight in one eye due to a beating he received in custody; he also suffers from various
cardiovascular ailments.

“Mr. Portal is free, that’s the good news; however, he should’ve never been imprisoned
to begin with and he has suffered significantly for no other reason expect that he was defending
his fundamental rights,” GLA President Jason Poblete said. “While there is no rule of law in
Cuba, it’s great to see Cuban lawyers on the island working in very difficult conditions
supporting Mr. Portal, his family, and so many others,” added Poblete.

Acting on behalf of Mr. Portal’s wife, Ms. Lucinda González Gómez, a Global Liberty
Alliance legal expert in Cuba (whose name is withheld for his safety) filed several appeals of his
sentence and filings for parole with the Cuban state. Cuba is notorious for flouting the
fundamental rights of its citizens, especially those who express any dissent from the Cuban state
controlled by the Communist Party – the only legal political party on the island.

The Global Liberty Alliance provides legal defense for those whose freedoms and
fundamental rights, including the right to free expression, are violated by their home
governments. GLA’s mission is to support individual rights and free markets with the rule of
law. You can learn more about the Global Liberty Alliance’s advocacy by browsing its website
or visiting its Facebook or Twitter accounts. You can also support GLA financially, including
with cryptocurrency.

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A part of The Global Rule of Law & Liberty Legal Defense Fund
globallibertyalliance.org
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