Human Rights Group Reports the ‘Young Man With the Placard’ is at Serious Risk in a Cuban Prison

14ymedio, Havana, 11 August 2022 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a resolution in which it considers the situation of Cuban opponent Luis Robles as “at serious risk.” Robles, known as “the young man with the placard,” was arrested in December 2020 for demanding the release of musician Denis Solís, on San … Continue reading “Human Rights Group Reports the ‘Young Man With the Placard’ is at Serious Risk in a Cuban Prison”

Three Blows to the Agreement for Political Dialogue and Cooperation Between Cuba and the EU / Dimas Castellano

Dimas Castellano, 7 July 2021 — The democratization of Cuba, a Western country laboring under a totalitarian government in the twenty-first century, is an urgent necessity. Cubans, who lack the space and freedom to participate as agents of that change, require international support. After 25 years of mutual relations, the European Union (EU) has shown … Continue reading “Three Blows to the Agreement for Political Dialogue and Cooperation Between Cuba and the EU / Dimas Castellano”

The Mother of Luis Robles, the ‘Young Man With the Placard,’ Denounces the Mistreatment of Her Son in Prison

14ymedio, Havana, 17 June 2022 — Yindra Elizastigui, the mother of activist Luis Robles, imprisoned a year and six months ago after demonstrating peacefully on San Rafael Boulevard in Havana, denounced in a live broadcast on Facebook this Thursday that five years in prison for her son is unfair, and that in the Combinado del Este prison, where … Continue reading “The Mother of Luis Robles, the ‘Young Man With the Placard,’ Denounces the Mistreatment of Her Son in Prison”

Considerations on Cuba of the Committee Against Torture / Cubalex

Cubalex, 22 April 2022 — A Transcription of a Presentation by Sébastien Touze before the United Nations Committee Against Torture. Confidence in the national police has declined, you might agree with me, you have not denied it since the events of July 2021. This episode of demonstrations offered an alarming vision, as there were a large … Continue reading “Considerations on Cuba of the Committee Against Torture / Cubalex”

Faced with Harassment by State Security, Cuban Activist Daniela Rojo Requests Political Asylum in Germany

14ymedio, Havana, 18 May 2022 — The activist Daniela Rojo is with her two children in a refugee center in Frankfurt. The young woman, age 26, girl arrived in the German city on May 15, where she immediately requested political asylum, but she had not wanted to make it public until now. “Here, my children and I … Continue reading “Faced with Harassment by State Security, Cuban Activist Daniela Rojo Requests Political Asylum in Germany”

Standing on a Wall in Central Havana, an Activist Asks for Freedom for Cubans

14ymedio, Havana, 28 April 2022 — “If you want Fidel to live, well let Fidel live, that is your problem. I do not want to be a communist!” The phrase was spoken very loudly early on Thursday morning on San Rafael boulevard in Havana. Some stood and watched, others filmed with their cell phones. The … Continue reading “Standing on a Wall in Central Havana, an Activist Asks for Freedom for Cubans”

Luis Robles, the ‘Young Man with the Placard’, is Sentenced to Five Years in a Cuban Jail

14ymedio, Havana, 30 March 2022–Activist Luis Robles, the “Young Man with the Placard”, was sentenced to five years in jail for peacefully protesting in the centrally-located Boulevard on San Rafael Street in Havana holding a sign demanding an end to the repression and freedom for Cuban rapper Denis Solís. According to the judicial sentencing document, … Continue reading “Luis Robles, the ‘Young Man with the Placard’, is Sentenced to Five Years in a Cuban Jail”

‘Cuba’s Greatest Enemy is Not Outside, But Sitting in the Presidential Chair’

14ymedio, Havana, 12 March 2022 — Luis Robles, the “young man with the placard,” still has not received his sentence despite the fact that next Wednesday will mark three months after the end of his trial. The Prosecutor’s Office requested six years in prison for him for the crimes of resistance and enemy propaganda. Imprisoned since he was … Continue reading “‘Cuba’s Greatest Enemy is Not Outside, But Sitting in the Presidential Chair’”

Anamely Ramos Announces Her Departure from the San Isidro Movement

14ymedio, Havana, 10 March 2022 — Art curator Anamely Ramos announced this Wednesday that she is no longer a member of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), the opposition group founded by artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and a dozen other artists. In a long post on her Facebook wall, Ramos emphasizes that her decision “is not due … Continue reading “Anamely Ramos Announces Her Departure from the San Isidro Movement”

Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is in a ‘Delicate State of Health’ Warns the San Isidro Movement

14ymedio, Havana, 16 February 2022 — Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, in jail since the protests on July 11, is in a “delicate state of health” after spending almost a month on hunger strike, art curator Claudia Genlui told 14ymedio. “We had information from a person inside the prison that Luis Manuel is currently very weak … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is in a ‘Delicate State of Health’ Warns the San Isidro Movement”

Activist Carolina Barrero Left Cuba, Forced into Exile by Threats of the Regime

14ymedio, Madrid, 4 February 2022 — On Thursday, Carolina Barrero became the latest case, to date, of an activist forced into exile. The art historian traveled on Thursday to Madrid after being informed by State Security that she had 48 hours to abandon the Island, according to her own account on Facebook. The activist was … Continue reading “Activist Carolina Barrero Left Cuba, Forced into Exile by Threats of the Regime”

US Urges its Partners to ‘Join in the Demand’ for the Release of Cuban Artist Otero Alcantara

14ymedio/ EFE, Washington/Madrid, 3 February 2022 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who had been held incommunicado since January 18, called his family on Wednesday. According to art curator Claudia Genlui in a Facebook post, the leader of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) “is alive, but very weak and damaged.” The artist “maintains his hunger strike as … Continue reading “US Urges its Partners to ‘Join in the Demand’ for the Release of Cuban Artist Otero Alcantara”

‘Many in Cuba Haven’t Even Heard About the Hundreds of Political Prisoners’

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 25 January 2022 — When his trial was postponed in December, Cuban artist Abel González Lescay, arrested after demonstrating peacefully on July 11 in Bejucal, Mayabeque, thought he would end up being released. Paradoxically, that seemed to him “bad news,” because it could, in his opinion, “overshadow” the denunciation of the rest of … Continue reading “‘Many in Cuba Haven’t Even Heard About the Hundreds of Political Prisoners’”

‘The Cuban Government is Slowly Assassinating’ Otero Alcántara in Prison

14ymedio, Havana, 19 January 2022 — Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has rejected the rights he has as a prisoner because he considers that he should not be one, according to art curator Claudia Genlui, who was able to speak with him in what he says was “his last call.” “He called to communicate, briefly but … Continue reading “‘The Cuban Government is Slowly Assassinating’ Otero Alcántara in Prison”

The Cuban Prosecutor’s Office Says that Otero Alcántara is a ‘Social Danger and Must Remain in Prison’

14ymedio, Havana, 11 January 2022 — The Prosecutor’s Office has rejected the request for a change in the precautionary measures for the artist and member of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, considering that he is a “social danger.” In a statement released this Monday through Facebook, the group reports that the … Continue reading “The Cuban Prosecutor’s Office Says that Otero Alcántara is a ‘Social Danger and Must Remain in Prison’”