A Cuban blogger due to collect a prestigious journalism prize in Spain yesterday was refused a visa to travel.
Yoani Sanchez, 32, was awarded the Ortega y Gasset prize, the Spanish equivalent of the Pulitzer, in digital journalism for her Generation Y blog criticising the Havana government.
In order to post the blog, Sanchez posed as a German tourist to access hotel internet connections intended for foreigners. The $6 per hour cost of being online was equivalent to two weeks wages for the average Cuban.
Sanchez told AFP that her request for a visa was the prefect test of President Raul Castro’s promise to open up the country.
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Spanish daily El Pais told the Independent today that it hadn’t expected Sanchez would be allowed to attend the awards ceremony.
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