The journalist and former political prisoner Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca arrival He returned to the United States on June 5, accompanied by his wife, Eralidis Frómeta, after serving almost three years of imprisonment for a five-year sentence for the alleged crimes of "enemy propaganda and resistance".
Upon arriving at Miami International Airport, Valle Roca told the press that two days earlier he had been transferred from Combinado del Este to the prison ward of the national hospital in Havana, where he was kept locked up under strict security measures.
The activist said that today, at 4:00 a.m., he was taken directly to José Martí International Airport amid a heavy police presence. State Security threatened him with death if he returned to Cuba and warned him that he must “leave or die in prison.”.
His wife, Eralidis Frómeta, revealed that since Valle Roca's imprisonment, State Security has pressured them with the alternative of forced exile as a way to avoid prison, but he refused and therefore faced the harsh conditions of prison life. She also mentioned that the authorities threatened her with another five years "carrying sacks" if they did not accept the option of leaving the country. Furthermore, she noted that, during these years in prison, Valle Roca's health has deteriorated without him receiving adequate treatment for his illnesses.
Valle Roca's physical and mental state has been affected by his imprisonment and a number of serious conditions: a tumor affecting his vision, a gallstone, aortic sclerosis, allergies, a deviated septum due to beatings he has received in prison, kidney failure, and chronic bronchopneumonia. Despite his health condition, prison authorities have repeatedly refused to provide him with the necessary medical assistance and the opportunity to be treated by specialists.
Furthermore, he has been subjected to systematic harassment, threats, and assaults while in prison. On October 3, 2023, Valle Roca was brutally assaulted by Lieutenant Colonel “Airen,” the prison’s second-in-command. This physical attack exacerbated his health condition, causing fever, generalized pain, and diarrhea, without him receiving the necessary medical attention.
The activist was asked to be granted parole on several occasions, but his request was always denied, even without written notification or legal justification. During a medical examination, it was discovered that his medical record was completely empty, indicating serious negligence.
So far, the authorities have not provided any information about Valle Roca's release, which demonstrates a lack of transparency regarding compliance with their international obligations.
The lack of transparency makes it impossible to know the precise circumstances of his release. If the provincial court did not issue a resolution in accordance with Law 152-2022 on Criminal Enforcement to grant the benefit of early release, it is an arbitrary decision that violates the law.
Illegal release from prison and forced expatriation could be strategies to avoid responsibility for a death in state custody. These acts could constitute crimes such as the improper execution of sentences or security measures.
It is a common practice of the Cuban state to get rid of people who have greater international visibility and who are considered inconvenient for the political group in power, with the aim of maintaining social control.