The passport of artist Tania Bruguera, returned to her by Cuban officials on Friday, July 10th.

HAVANA – The Cuban government has returned to Cuban artist Tania Bruguera her passport, and she is now legally allowed to leave the country. In a meeting on Friday, July 10th with State Security officials, including her parole officer, her Cuban passport (her only passport) was returned to her after having been confiscated six months ago when she attempted a political performance in the city of Havana.

“I’m not going to leave Cuba until I have an official document in my hands that legally guarantees that I can come back without any problems,” declared Bruguera, and Cuban authorities have promised to provide such a document in the next two weeks.

“My argument has never been about leaving Cuba, my argument is about working so there is freedom of expression and public protest in Cuba, so that violence against those who think different politically will be penalized accordingly. In Cuba people should feel free to say what they think without fear of losing their jobs or university standing, without fear of being marginalized or imprisoned,” said the artist.

“My wish is that someday the police at a protest will be proud that there is plurality of thought. My argument proposes amnesty and the elimination of the concept of the political prisoner, so that no one is ever again imprisoned for thinking for themselves. I don’t ever want to look into a Cuban’s eyes and see fear of saying what they think, or fear of being themselves,” said Bruguera.

The following statement was issued by #YoTambienExijo:

We are grateful to all the Cubans around the world who have supported our non-violent cause for freedom and plurality, and to all the international artists and institutions who have lent their names, their signatures, their bodies and souls to all the initiatives that have helped bring Tania Bruguera one step closer to freedom.

#YoTambienExijo is grateful to everyone, regardless of political difference, because it’s through diversity that our movement grows, through the sharing of ideas that life is nourished, and through plurality that societies advance and prosper.

We are grateful to all who have stood by Tania in Cuba so she wouldn’t feel alone, and to the more than two-thousand international personalities who have shown the value of Artivism and the role of Social Art. Happiness isn’t forgetting; it’s using Memory, Truth & Justice to make a better world each and every day.

We would like to thank all those in The Voice Project community who used their voice to help get to this outcome; letter writers from over 30 countries who participated in the campaign, the artists and activists who advocated for Tania, and to everyone who shared her story on social media. Advocacy works, and we thank you for your efforts!