Executive Summary
August 2024 was marked by a severe social, economic, and political crisis in Cuba. Despite the widespread collapse of public services, prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and a deteriorating healthcare system, the Cuban regime continues to prioritize repression over addressing the basic needs of the population. While investment in essential sectors such as education and health is declining, investment in hotels and restaurants grew by more than 1.121% in the first half of the year.
They reported 22 murders, This includes three femicides and one multiple homicide, reflecting the increase in social violence. Added to this is the lack of response to the spread of the Oropouche virus and dengue fever, leading international organizations to issue health alerts regarding travel risks to the island.
Systematic repression: figures and patterns
During the month, Cubalex documented 208 repressive acts distributed in 46 municipalities of the country. These events involved 423 incidents of harassment and at least 177 direct victims.
The report denounces the death of three prisoners, among them Yosandri Mulet Almarales, who committed suicide during a pass, and Flavio Alonso Piedra, A soldier on active military duty also died in custody. Lack of medical care, inhumane conditions, prolonged isolation, and degrading treatment in prison remain systematic violations.
Arbitrary trials and sentences were recorded, such as the conviction of Arony Yanko García Valdés for posting a meme, and the punishment to Adrián Curuneaux Steven for attempting to visit Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. The political use of the judicial system was also denounced, as in the case of Judge Melody González, who admitted to having committed misconduct during her tenure before emigrating to the U.S.
Violence, surveillance and repression outside of prisons
The report details multiple forms of harassment, such as travel bans, threats of imprisonment, raids outside homes, and ideologically motivated punishments. Cases such as the murder of Juan Eralys Cayamo, collaborator of UNPACU, during a violent arrest in Santiago de Cuba, demonstrate the lethal use of force by state agents.
Other repressive acts included: preventing people from buying food for political reasons, penalizing citizens for listening to protest music, and denying access to basic services because of family ties with opponents.
Methodology
This report was prepared based on the analysis of 448 records (240 from the context and 208 from repression), collected between August 1 and 31, 2024, through social media, digital media, and direct reports. Although the monitoring is systematic, Cubalex warns that The figures are not exhaustive, because many violations remain invisible for technological reasons, fear, or censorship.
We invite you to consult the full report to learn more details about the violations documented by Cubalex.