Agents from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) and State Security monitor the headquarters of the Ladies in White in Havana. Photo: Berta Soler/Facebook.
According to the underreporting of incidents compiled by Cubalex —based on public complaints on social media and information sent directly by affected people—, in the days prior to and during December 10, 2025, a coordinated operation of control and harassment was deployed in Cuba aimed at preventing any form of citizen expression on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.
The information analyzed shows that the authorities resorted to multiple forms of repression directed primarily against activists, independent journalists, human rights defenders and citizens in general.
Among the most frequent violations recorded by Cubalex in the days leading up to and during December 10th were:
🔎 Among the repressive incidents recorded during those days were:
- Internal mobility restriction
- House arrest
- Surveillance operations
- Illegal or arbitrary subpoenas
- Threats and coercion
- Violence or harassment
- Arbitrary arrests
- Selective internet access cuts
In numerous cases, the affected individuals reported being warned not to leave their homes, not to post on social media, or not to participate in peaceful activities, according to complaints registered on digital platforms and direct reports received by Cubalex.
Internal mobility restrictions were the most widespread form of repression, used to limit the movements of activists and people considered to be of interest to State Security.
Surveillance operations and illegal summonses were also significant, operating as preventive control mechanisms. Although less frequent, cases of threats, violence, and arbitrary arrests demonstrate an increase in the intensity of harassment by the authorities.
While Havana had the highest number of documented incidents—a total of 36—the repression was not limited to the capital. Reports also came from Villa Clara, Mayabeque, Pinar del Río, Camagüey, Guantánamo, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, and Artemisa, demonstrating a nationwide deployment of repressive measures. In several of these provinces, particularly Villa Clara and Mayabeque, simultaneous police surveillance, intimidating summonses, and direct coercion were recorded, suggesting centralized coordination of the repressive apparatus beyond local or territorial control. In numerous complaints, those affected reported receiving explicit warnings not to leave their homes, not to share information on social media, or not to participate in peaceful activities related to December 10th.
These events are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a systematic and predictable pattern of repression that intensifies on dates considered “sensitive” by the Cuban state. The strategy follows a logic of anticipation and neutralization: it seeks to prevent, before it even occurs, any public expression of discontent, citizen organization, or exercise of fundamental rights. This persistent practice demonstrates the absence of minimum guarantees for the exercise of essential freedoms and the consolidation of an environment of permanent surveillance and coercion.
As every year, International Human Rights Day in Cuba unfolds under a climate of repression designed to coerce and limit any expression of protest by citizens. In 2025 alone, Cubalex has documented 2,736 human rights violations. Each record represents an affected person, a family living in fear, a life marked by repression. These are not just statistics: they are stories that deserve to be heard and addressed.
The events documented by Cubalex violate international obligations assumed by the Cuban State and affect fundamental rights such as freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly. The imposition of arbitrary restrictions, constant surveillance, intimidating summonses, and politically motivated detentions contradict international standards for the protection of human rights defenders and deviate from the basic principles of any society that aspires to respect the rule of law.
Cubalex reiterates the importance of making these violations visible and reaffirms its commitment to providing support and free legal advice to all those facing repression in Cuba. If you have been a victim of any of these acts or need guidance, you can securely contact our team through the organization's official channels.