Cubalex has received information about a brutal attack against political prisoner Yurisnel Rodríguez Torres in the Boniato maximum security prison, located in the province of Santiago de Cuba, on the orders of the prison authorities.
Assault under orders from prison authorities
According to the information received, the beating occurred on February 3rd and was perpetrated by inmates Alexander Rodríguez Sosa (alias “El Indio”) and Yunior Torres Montero, under the direct orders of the prison warden, Dagoberto Zayas Silva. The alleged “motive” for the attack was an argument with Rodríguez Torres over the possession of sunglasses.
This attack highlights the climate of repression, abuse of power, and institutional violence within Cuban prisons, where political prisoners are constantly punished for their activism.
Risk to the life and safety of Yurisnel Rodríguez Torres
The severity of Rodríguez Torres' injuries and whether he has received adequate medical attention are currently unknown. However, it is confirmed that he has been forced to continue living with his attackers, endangering his safety and well-being.
Yurisnel Rodríguez Torres was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his participation in the July 11, 2021 protests in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba. His case is yet another example of the criminalization of protest and the regime's repression of those demanding change in the country.
From Cubalex, we denounce the systematic violence in Cuban prisons, where people deprived of their liberty for political reasons are victims of constant aggression and reprisals.
We call on the international community to pay attention to these abuses and demand the immediate release of all political prisoners in Cuba.