Translating Cuba

His medical condition is especially delicate

Jorge Bello Domínguez, a journalist and protester from 11 July 2021, has remained imprisoned since that date. He was sentenced to 15 years of deprivation of liberty after a process in which the petitioners denounced that he did not have independent legal defense and in which he was charged with disproportionate offenses. The Commission also recorded that Bello was disappeared for 12 days after his arrest, subjected to isolation, interrogations without a lawyer, and torture to force him to confess guilt.

His medical condition is especially delicate, as he suffers from type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, persistent asthma, chronic gastritis, progressive vision deterioration, acute dental pain, a history of heart attack, malnutrition, generalized weakness, and testicular inflammation with bleeding and severe pain that, according to the file, has not been treated by a specialist since February 2024.

The IACHR also took into account allegations of beatings, forced nudity, humiliation to access insulin, use of pepper spray, lack of medication, poor nutrition, and arbitrary restrictions on visits and phone calls. Added to this is the harassment against his family, who have been subjected to threats, surveillance, police summons, interrogations, arbitrary detentions, and forced relocations in retaliation for their activism in defense of the prisoner.

The list of 26 released prisoners includes those sentenced to between six and 18 years

Although precautionary measures do not amount to a ruling on the merits of the case, they do imply that the body considers there to be, preliminarily, a real and imminent risk that requires urgent protection.

The decision also comes amid the opaque process of releases that the authorities are attempting to present as a gesture of flexibility, but which independent organizations describe as a control maneuver.

This Wednesday, Prisoners Defenders reported the release of Renán Julio Vilches Wong, 37, sentenced to six years in prison for “speaking badly” about leaders of the Communist Party. According to the organization, Vilches would be the 26th political prisoner released “under threats,” with his sentence still in place and subject to a “de facto home detention regime.” The prisoner leaves the cell, but the repressive apparatus retains the ability to return him to prison, and the threat continues to operate as a disciplinary mechanism.

Prisoners Defenders maintains that of the 51 releases announced by the regime on March 12, only 26 have been carried out. “There are still 25 left,” the organization said, adding that it is auditing the process “to ensure that all those promised to the Catholic Church are released.”

The list of 26 released prisoners includes individuals sentenced to between six and 18 years, many of them held in forced labor camps or maximum-security prisons.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The rise in the number of mobilizations, 4.8% more than the 1,185 in February, and nearly 80% more than those recorded in the same month last year, prompted an intense response from authorities. The observatory documented 159 repressive acts, with the detention of more than 40 protesters, including the case of the minor Jonathan David Muir Burgos, 16 years old, who is suffering “inhumane conditions” in prison.

The observatory documented 159 repressive acts, with the detention of more than 40 protesters

In addition, a new wave of detentions and summonses targeting journalists and activists was recorded, such as the case of influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, who was placed under house arrest and received threats of up to five years in prison following a State Security operation aimed at curbing her activity on social media. “The state apparatus was exposed grappling with a brave and petite young girl,” the report describes.

A similar pattern was denounced by members of the digital project Fuera de la Caja, a group created by young Cubans that produces political content on social media from the Cerro municipality in Havana. In a video, the project released on March 11 an audio recording of the father of Amanda Beatriz Andrés Navarro, one of the members, in which he states that he was intercepted by two officers from the Ministry of the Interior at his workplace.

“It turns out that when I arrived at my workplace there were two State Security agents waiting for me, and they began to intimidate me about my children, saying that they were committing crimes, inciting constitutional disorder, encouraging delinquency, and that if they continued they would put them in prison,” the audio says.

The OCC indicates that 27 murders were reported on the Island, almost one per day, “as a result of social, criminal, or gender-based violence”

Another trigger for the mobilizations was insecurity in the country. The OCC indicates that 27 murders were reported on the Island, almost one per day, “as a result of social, criminal, or gender-based violence.” The report notes that in seven of those deaths the perpetrators were family members, “and in several cases the events occurred during blackouts.” It also mentions the two minors murdered in one week, aged 7 and 14, “who were killed after being sexually abused.” Likewise, “26 robbery-related crimes were compiled, with reports highlighting an increase in assaults by organized and armed criminal groups.”

The mobilizations found their epicenter in Havana, the observatory reports. The capital recorded 461 protests last month (an average of 15 per day). It was followed by Matanzas, with 137; Holguín, with 72; Santiago de Cuba, 69; Guantánamo, 41; and Villa Clara, which recorded 34.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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of Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva.

“I am relatively a newcomer to this issue,” admitted Nick Gutiérrez, a specialist in claims for property confiscated by the Revolution in the 1960s and a member of the Cuban Democratic Directorate in Miami. “There are people here much older than I am who have longed for seven decades for what is happening now. The freedom of the Cuban people is near. It is the first time I can say that, and I have been involved in this issue for at least 35 years,” continued the jurist, a firm supporter of Donald Trump’s government.

“Now we have an Administration that has helped us more than any other. We have not won yet, and there are people, inside and outside this Administration, who favor and oppose our ideals. We have to remain steadfast in our ideals, which are not radical. We are not asking for anything special, a special privilege. We are asking for the same thing that most of the peoples of the world enjoy: democracy, freedom, rule of law,” he said.

“We are not asking for anything special, a special privilege. We are asking for the same thing that most of the peoples of the world enjoy: democracy, freedom, rule of law”

Asked why there were no Cuban Americans from the Democratic Party and whether they considered including them, Ernesto Rodríguez stated that this meeting was planned exclusively for people linked to “the right, conservatives,” but that they would have no problem, when the time comes, with other profiles joining who want to contribute. “We are looking, through the Trump Administration, for strong economic support to be able to put our nation, the Island we love so much, where it should have been a long time ago, and for that resources are needed,” he acknowledged.

“I think the meeting is very positive. There is a lot of interest in progress, there is a lot of interest in rebuilding the Cuba we fled from,” concluded lawyer José Villalobos.

The meeting, which will have its second session on May 20, coincided with the controversy generated this Tuesday in Miami over the export of fuel from the U.S. to the private sector on the Island, which has been authorized by the Trump Administration. Several Florida companies have joined the business, particularly that of Cuban American Hugo Cancio, who aligns with those who support negotiation, without prior conditions, with the regime in Havana.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.

and Terry got the opportunity to redeem himself. When the Asian pitching had dominated the Yumurino lineup without difficulty, the fiery player hit a double down the left field line that sparked the comeback from lethargy. His contribution in the rally in the bottom of the seventh inning was crucial, as he opened the inning with a hit and scored the first of the six runs that turned the scoreboard around.”

In the last National Series, the player had experienced a sporting resurgence after spending four years seeking opportunities in Pinar del Río, due to being sidelined by Matanzas sports authorities in 2021, despite having stood out in the national under-23 tournament.

After working his way back, in 2025 Terry participated in the 1st Jorge Luis Valdés In Memoriam Provincial Cup, which featured four teams with Matanzas players. This tournament became the perfect platform for his resurgence, as he posted a .404 batting average, with 10 hits, including four home runs, in addition to stealing six bases, driving in 19 runs, and scoring another 16. These numbers led to him being named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Finally, in the last National Series, he received the opportunity to join the ranks of the Cocodrilos, with whom he won the title in Cuba.

In the last National Series he received the opportunity to join the ranks of the Cocodrilos, with whom he won the title in Cuba

The Baseball Champions League Americas held in Mexico has become one of the stages for player defections in recent years. In the previous edition, players from Las Tunas Rafael Viñales and Denis Peña left the competition venue and began a new life in Mexican territory after winning the runner-up title.

At that time, the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), in a brief statement and as is customary, confirmed the defection and accused Viñales and Peña of “turning their backs on the commitment assumed.”

In the case of Esteban Terry, the authorities have not issued an official position on the matter. However, his departure could be treated differently from previous cases due to the new Law 179, which anticipates a “historic” change and formally eliminates the requirement of permanent residence in the country for Cubans living abroad to be able to join sports teams, both at the national and international level. Likewise, it expands the possibility of calling up descendants of Cubans residing in other countries to join the Island’s sports movement, so the Matanzas native would no longer have doors closed to him in the future.

It formally eliminates the requirement of permanent residence in the country for Cubans living abroad to be able to join teams

Before the last World Baseball Classic, several Cuban-American players, such as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, expressed their intentions to play for Team Asere but were rejected by sports authorities.

The measure is not retroactive, as those who have been sanctioned with separation or expulsion from the system are excluded.

Likewise, in parallel with the Government’s announcement of economic opening, the legislation also authorizes, for the first time, advertising and sponsorship in Cuban sports, allowing accredited foreigners and Cubans abroad to finance projects, from domestic tournaments to teams competing internationally. Cuban and foreign individuals who do not reside in the country “may participate in the guidance, promotion, encouragement, and development of the Cuban Sports System,” the law states.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.

Also present at the port were Lázaro Manuel Alonso, a broadcaster for Canal Caribe, as well as correspondents from foreign media outlets, such as the EFE and Reuters news agencies. “This is like a drop of water in the desert,” Marino Gálvez, 66, a resident of Matanzas, told the British agency, as he watched the ship’s maneuvers in the bay from the city’s waterfront.

The man lamented, referring to the oil blockade imposed on Cuba by Donald Trump after the United States’ intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro: “What they are doing to us is very unfair, and people shouldn’t have to pay for the policies of any government.”

Once the crude oil is unloaded from the newly arrived ship, it must be transported to refineries in Havana and Cienfuegos, where it could be converted into approximately 250,000 barrels of diesel, according to Jorge Piñón, an energy specialist at the University of Texas. Processing will take between 15 and 20 days, and the refined product will take another week to be delivered.

This fuel would allow for a few days’ supply of generators, transportation, and agriculture, although the expert also fears the government will keep some for itself. “Are we so naive as to think the government won’t keep a significant amount of diesel for its own reserves, instead of supplying it to those who need it most to survive?” he told 14ymedio .

The Anatoly Kolodkin belongs to the main state shipping company, the Sovkomflot corporation, sanctioned by the US since 2024, and departed from the Russian port of Primorsk on March 9.

Two days ago, the US president downplayed the arrival of the tanker . “They have to survive! I have no problem with that,” he told reporters, while also opening the door to other similar operations: “I told them, if a country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with that. Whether it’s Russia or not.” He asserted: “They have a bad regime, they have bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get an oil tanker, that doesn’t matter.”

However, on Monday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that if the US allowed the Anatoly Kolodkin to reach the island, it was for “humanitarian reasons,” and that the country will analyze each case to determine whether or not to authorize the arrival of other ships.

“There has been no firm change in our sanctions policy,” Leavitt stated at a press conference. “We will continue to consider each case individually, whether for humanitarian or other reasons.”

Before this appearance yesterday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had avoided clearly answering whether she would continue sending oil to the island, in light of Trump’s statements on Sunday. The president reiterated that the Mexican government is helping the Cuban people with humanitarian aid while also maintaining trade agreements with its counterpart in Havana. “What we have always said is that Mexico has every right to send fuel, whether for humanitarian or commercial reasons, but we don’t want to harm Mexico,” she explained.

At the same time, she referred to the “tariffs, well, duties” with which Trump threatened nations that send oil to the island. “In that context,” she summarized, “we will make the decision, and it will always be reported whether or not oil is sent to Cuba.” Furthermore, as something “very important,” Sheinbaum mentioned that “there are private companies in Cuba,” such as “hotels and others,” that “require fuel,” and that “they are looking for private companies willing to supply them with fuel, not necessarily government-to-government.” She continued, without clarifying whether this is the method they have found to send oil or which companies are involved, on either side: “There are private companies that have approached us, for example, to buy fuel from Pemex and then deliver it to private companies in Cuba.” 

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blue. Both will carry the watermark of Celia Sánchez, like their high-value predecessors.

Other details include the integration of two additional security features: a vertical thread and the mariposa — the national flower — on both the front and back, which will have a rainbow movement effect.

The initials of the BCC, the signature of the bank’s president, Juana Lilia Delgado Portal, and other embossed elements will characterize the new denominations, which will also each feature a commemorative set. The 2,000 peso bill shows the monument to Mariana Grajales in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, while the 5,000 peso bill will feature the monument to Celia Sánchez Manduley in Lenin Park.

The BCC has provided all the essential details to identify the validity of the two banknotes, although it does not reveal the amount invested in issuing these new denominations.

The expert then spoke of the possibility that China might print the Cuban banknotes, although he also pointed to the Russian option, a manufacturer that supplies many countries.

Since 2023, the need for higher-value denominations had become evident, since for foods as common as a carton of eggs, more than three banknotes of the highest denomination were required. However, the shortage of paper currency to produce them was so evident that the State acknowledged having problems printing.

At that time, the issuance of more 100 peso banknotes was announced, but with new paper that would circulate simultaneously with previous versions but without the raised print or the Braille system.

“With inflation and devaluation, more banknotes are needed to buy the same product or service, or new banknotes with higher denominations, and this is where the cost of printing paper money and the decision about banknotes with denominations higher than 1,000 come in,” explained Cuban economist Pedro Monreal at the time.

The expert then spoke of the possibility that China might print the Cuban banknotes, although he also pointed to the Russian option, a manufacturer that supplies many countries. The Asian option was one of the most economical in the world, where each banknote costs between 0.05 and 0.10 cents of a dollar. Monreal already warned at that time that it would be necessary, in any case, to consider replacing the denominations that would substitute the current ones that had “become obsolete due to inflation and devaluation,” although that “would imply an outlay of millions of dollars.”

Translated by Regina Anavy

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COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.

generator running, making his home one of the only illuminated ones in the area and highlighting his strong connections. Today, there is no greater status symbol than having what it takes to keep a generator running. As a finishing touch, decorative light bulbs illuminate his terrace over a dark Havana.

“There are many people who want there to be capitalism with sovereignty in Cuba,” he blurts out. He does not say it as a reflection or develop a theory; he simply knows that millions of people will react to the remark.

Thus goes each of the phrases he throws out while drinking a beer with the journalist. “My grandfather was a person who had his principles. He had his principles – everyone is as they are, logically – but he also respected those of other people,” he says. And again he does not argue about a man who ordered executions for thinking differently; no clarification is possible. He
simply knows it will go viral.

The influencer says he is proud of his origins but systematically rejects that they provide him with any privilege. “My last name is my last name. I am proud of my last name, of course, but I do not see that help you are mentioning in the preamble. I am like any other citizen,” he maintains.

He does not, obviously, miss the chance to comment on Washington. “Cuba faces unprecedented pressure from the United States to open up politically and economically. We have to fight, and as all Cubans say, it’s hard. It’s hard even for a Castro, it’s hard to have a business, very hard. Very hard, because you suffer with thousands of difficulties. One day there may be no electricity, there may be no water, a shipment may not arrive…,” he complains.

“My grandfather was a person who had his principles. He had his principles -everyone is as they are, logically- but he also respected those of other people”

The journalist presses him again about his origins, but he again rejects them and feels like a victim of others’ hatred toward his family. “It’s complicated, because I think that most Cubans want capitalism, not communism, and maybe that has created a divide and a hatred that, sadly, is not productive,” he says, while also noting that he agrees with Trump that there should be an economic opening on the Island, although he rejects the idea of threatening to take it.

The text accompanying the video by CNN, in addition to being very critical of Castro, leaves some details that further sketch the character, among them the fact that he boasts that “his nightclub on a main avenue in Havana ‘only’ cost him $50,000, a sum beyond the wildest imagination of most Cubans.” The grandson also told the network that he aspires to create his own beer and would like to have more venues, but the bureaucracy overwhelms him.

“What little I have is thanks to my effort, my sacrifice,” he said, doing honor to Ted Henken, a professor and expert on the Cuban internet, who summed up Sandro’s attitude in a simple way to CNN. “He is capitalizing on ‘hate me.’”

Translated by Regina Anavy
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COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.