At various times during the month of March, protests were registered in various locations across the country, motivated by the precarious economic situation, the scarcity of drinking water, electricity, food and the restriction of fundamental freedoms.
In this context, we have documented repressive actions against citizens and activists for their social media posts. Such actions against freedom of expression represent a flagrant violation of human rights, demonstrating an alarming trend of intimidation by the regime, with the aim of silencing dissenting voices.
According to incidents documented by Cubalex, based on reports from social media and independent media outlets, the practices of summonses without legal basis, intimidating interrogations, threats of imprisonment and arbitrary detentions stand out:
–Victor Manuel Hidalgo Cabrales: He was arrested on March 19 in the city of Las Tunas after sharing a post on his Facebook profile criticizing the power outages. The second-in-command of State Security in the province arrived at his home hours after he shared the post and threatened him, demanding he delete it. The following day, they searched his home and arrested him, accusing him of “inciting crime and vandalism.” His wife was informed that she must await trial in pretrial detention. A source told Cubalex that on March 22, his wife, who had publicly denounced the arbitrary arrest, was summoned to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).
–Yoel Enrique Varela: He was summoned on March 20 to report to the Matanzas Operations Unit, known as “El Técnico,” after posting two videos on Facebook showing military operations in the city streets. The young man told ADN Cuba that he received threats of imprisonment. He was warned that if he wanted freedom, he should leave the country or join the fight in Ukraine, with the emphasis that in Cuba “they won’t allow it.”.
–Luis Ramón Estiu Suárez: The opposition member was arrested in Santiago de Cuba because of his social media posts. He was issued a warning and threatened with jail. He was released that same day, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).
–Asdrúbal Kindelán GarbeyHe was arrested on March 23 in Santiago de Cuba for broadcasting live from outside the Versalles unit, the State Security operations center in that province, while demanding the release of his son, who had been arrested for allegedly participating in protests in the city. Kindelán Garbey was released days later, bail was set at 50,000 pesos, and he faces charges of “contempt.”.
–King Orange Palau: He was arrested on March 23 in Havana. In a live broadcast, he called on the Abakuá community to join him in confronting the police. He is reportedly being held at Villa Marista prison, where he has not received the medication he needs to treat a nervous condition. According to reports from someone who went to the prison to inquire about his situation, the young man is being accused of putting up posters.
–Ricardo Jesús Pupo Reyes: He is self-employed and, in a complaint published by Cubanet Noticias, reported that he was harassed by State Security. He was threatened with being “lynched” for posting content from independent media outlets about the protests on Facebook.
–Liuber Caballero GonzálezThe young man was arrested in Santiago de Cuba after posting images of a pot-banging protest that took place on March 13 in the Micro 3 neighborhood of the Abel Santamaría district, in protest against the lack of water and electricity. He was later transferred to Versalles, the headquarters of the State Security operations center in that province.
-Several members of the Cuba Primero movement, including Rosaida González in the community of Cacocum, in Holguín; Juan Carlos Vasallo Fregio and Lázaro Mendoza in Havana, have been summoned, interrogated and threatened with imprisonment, not only for their activism in the opposition organization, but also for their publications on social networks.
We are facing a clear pattern of repression aimed at silencing any form of dissent or criticism. It is important to remain vigilant regarding these human rights violations.