Front Line Defenders is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas in a car crash in the eastern city of Bayamo on 22 July 2012.

Leader of the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación – MCL (Liberation Christian Movement), and founder of the Proyecto Varela, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas was a courageous and dedicated human rights activist and a recipient of the 2002 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom and Thought.

"He fought for the rights of Cubans, without violence or hatred. That's how he'll be remembered," said his son of Oswaldo Payá.

Concern at circumstances surrounding death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas

On 22 July 2012 Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and MCL youth leader Harold Cepero were killed, and two European politicians - Angel Carromero of Spain and Jens Aron Modig of Sweden - suffered minor injuries in a crash near the city of Bayamo.

Activists in Cuba have reported suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash, and the Christian Liberation Movement has called on the Cuban authorities to carry out a transparent investigation into the death of the two human rights defenders.