The political prisoner and 11J protester Andy García Lorenzo was arrested On Sunday, August 30, in the city of Santa Clara, he was detained for approximately 20 hours, in a new repressive episode against a person who had already served his sentence for participating in the anti-government protests of July 11, 2021.
García Lorenzo was arrested in a public place and taken to the Third Unit of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) from Santa Clara, according to family members who reported the incident on social media. According to information shared by his relatives, the authorities intended to accuse him of an alleged crime of “public disorder”, related to taking photographs in the streets.
Following his arrest, Andy García Lorenzo started a hunger strike as a form of protest against his arrest. His family and other close friends went to the police station on Sunday to find out about his situation and demand his release. He was finally released on Monday.
García Lorenzo was one of the young people who participated in the protests of July 11, 2021 (11J), These were the largest anti-government demonstrations seen in Cuba in decades. For these actions, he was sentenced to four years in prison and served his full sentence. He was released in July 2025.
This short-term arbitrary detention therefore occurs after he had already served the sentence imposed for his participation in the demonstrations.
More than 50 repressive incidents against 11J protesters outside of prison
The case of Andy García Lorenzo fits into a broader repressive pattern documented by Cubalex during 2026.
So far this year, the organization's monitoring has recorded 54 repressive events against 28 protesters from 11J who were out of prison at the time these events occurred.
This data constitutes a underreporting, Therefore, the figure may be higher and does not include repressive events that may occur against these same people once they are imprisoned again.
The documented incidents include arrests, surveillance, threats, summonses, and other forms of harassment directed against protesters who had already been released from prison after serving their sentences or receiving some prison benefit.
Particularly worrying is the use of the Revocations of prison benefits as a mechanism of persecution. During 2026, Cubalex documented at least five cases of people imprisoned for political reasons related to the July 11 attacks who had been released and subsequently returned to prison:
- Denis Hernández
- Yoan de la Cruz
- Yunaykis de la Caridad Linares
- Leonel Tristá García
- José Enrique Pablo Oliva
These cases show that Release from prison does not necessarily mean the end of persecution for those who were imprisoned for participating in the 11J protests.
The situation documented during this year demonstrates that releases and other prison benefits They have not meant the end of the persecution against people imprisoned for political reasons.
Conversely, those who regain their freedom remain subject to a regime of surveillance and harassment, while facing the constant threat of returning to prison through procedures characterized by the lack of transparency and judicial guarantees.
The case of García Lorenzo once again highlights this reality. After serving four years in prison for the events of July 11th and regaining his freedom in July 2025, he is once again detained on charges of “public disorder.”.
The situation is especially worrying because the deprivation of liberty occurs in relation to conduct that, according to available complaints, consisted of taking photographs in public spaces.
Revocations as a mechanism of retaliation
Cubalex reiterates that the use of the Revocations of prison benefits as a response to the exercise of fundamental rights or as a mechanism of reprisal constitutes a serious violation of due process guarantees.
The organization believes that this practice demonstrates the arbitrary way in which Cuban authorities administer prison benefits and keeps released prisoners in a situation of permanent legal insecurity.
Cubalex's monitoring will continue to document repressive incidents against 11J protesters who are out of prison, as well as any new arrests and revocations that may occur.
The organization demands respect for the fundamental rights of people imprisoned for political reasons, guarantees of due process, and an end to the persecution of those who have already served their sentences or have been released.