EU criticises Cuba for restricting travel on dissident protester

The European Union (EU) parliament has criticised Cuba for not allowing a dissident protester to travel to collect its biggest human rights award.



EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek says Guillermo Farinas would be represented by an empty chair at the midweek ceremony to award the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought.



Farinas went on a 134-day hunger strike that helped draw attention to the plight of Cuban political dissidents.



Joseph Daul, a member of the European parliament from France, says Farina’s absence means that nothing has changed in Cuba.