Cuban Prosecutor’s Office Asks for Six Years in Prison for Lady in White Who Participated in 11 July Protests

14ymedio, Havana, 21 September 2021 — The Municipal Prosecutor’s Office of Jovellanos requested a sentence of six years of deprivation of liberty for the Lady in White Sissi Abascal Zamora after her participation in the demonstrations on July 11 (11J). According to the official document, dated September 15, which 14ymedio had access to before the opposition opened it … Continue reading “Cuban Prosecutor’s Office Asks for Six Years in Prison for Lady in White Who Participated in 11 July Protests”

Cuban Artist Hamlet Lavastida is Released from Prison and Travels to Poland

14ymedio, Havana, Cuba | 26 September 2021 — Hamlet Lavastida was released this Saturday and taken to José Martí International Airport in Havana, where he boarded a plane bound for Poland. After more than three months of detention in Villa Marista prison, the artist left the island along with his girlfriend, poet Katherine Bisquet Rodríguez, … Continue reading “Cuban Artist Hamlet Lavastida is Released from Prison and Travels to Poland”

Ten Months Forced Labor for Young Cuban Marching on the Street on July 11th

14ymedio, Havana, 20 September 2021 — The image of a young man violently taken into custody by a plainclothes policeman a few meters from the Capitol in Havana has become one of the iconic photos of the repression against protesters on July 11. Now, the protagonist of the snapshot taken by a 14ymedio reporter faces a sanction of ten months … Continue reading “Ten Months Forced Labor for Young Cuban Marching on the Street on July 11th”

Time Magazine Names Cuba’s Otero Alcantara as One of 2021’s Most Influential People

14ymedio, Havana, 15 September 2021 — The American magazine Time has names the Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara as one of 2021’s 100 most influential people of 2021, in the feature’s opening section labeled “Icons.” The most visible face of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), who is now once again imprisoned since the protests of July 11, appears with, among … Continue reading “Time Magazine Names Cuba’s Otero Alcantara as One of 2021’s Most Influential People”

In His Quest to Save the Cuban Regime, Lopez Obrador Gives a Boost to Diaz-Canel

14ymedio, Mexico, 16 September 2021 — With a speech during the military parade that commemorates the Independence of Mexico every year and a place on the stage, it was clear this Thursday the leading role that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reserved for his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel. Despite the words of the Mexican president a … Continue reading “In His Quest to Save the Cuban Regime, Lopez Obrador Gives a Boost to Diaz-Canel”

Willy Chirino Says the Song ‘Que se vayan’ is 13 Years Old and Alluded to Fidel Castro

14ymedio, Havana, 11 September 2021 — Cuban singer Willy Chirino said he was very satisfied with the result of Que se vayan ya [Get Out!] after Thursday’s release of the song’s music video. The song, said the composer, had a first version in 2008 with the title Que se va ya and alluded to Fidel Castro. It was precisely that … Continue reading “Willy Chirino Says the Song ‘Que se vayan’ is 13 Years Old and Alluded to Fidel Castro”

‘Get Out!’, the New Anthem from Willy Chirino for the Freedom of Cuba

14ymedio, Havana 10 September 2021 —  “We are waiting for the time of your retirement, what people want is a break (…) pick up and go assassin.” That is how forceful the lyrics of ‘Que se vayan ya’ [Get Out] are, the new song by Willy Chirino and the reggaeton artists Lenier Mesa, El Micha (who … Continue reading “‘Get Out!’, the New Anthem from Willy Chirino for the Freedom of Cuba”

Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is Charged With New Crimes

14ymedio, Havana, 6 September 2021 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who has now spent 53 days in prison, was charged with new crimes on Monday. The curator Claudia Genluí, a member of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), reported that Otero Alcántara is now being accused of public disorder, instigation to commit a crime and … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is Charged With New Crimes”

The Current Status of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara’s Health / Cubalex

Cubalex, 10 May 2021 [please note date*] — We present a summary of our report, which you can read in its entirety at this link. The situation that Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is going through is the result of the unequal relationship between the power of the State and that of the citizen who expresses disagreement … Continue reading “The Current Status of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara’s Health / Cubalex”

Activist Fined for Trying to See Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara / Cubalex

Cubalex, 13 May 2021 — The activist Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva of the Opposition Movement for a New Republic was fined yesterday, May 11, for trying to enter the Calixto García hospital to inquire about the health status of Luis Manuel Otero. The activist took with him the response that the Court issued to the … Continue reading “Activist Fined for Trying to See Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara / Cubalex”

Cuba’s Ladies in White Show Solidarity With the 11J (July 11th) Detainees

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 3 September 2021 — The leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, joined the fast of other dissidents on Thursday in support of the opponents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, both former prisoners of the Black Spring of 2003, who were arrested on July 11, the day of the … Continue reading “Cuba’s Ladies in White Show Solidarity With the 11J (July 11th) Detainees”

What Happened to Freedom of Expression in Cuba in 2020? / Cubalex

Cubalex, 19 May 2021 — The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression [of the  Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)] documented a continuation during 2020 of the pattern of restrictions on freedom of expression and access to public information in Cuba. The annual report issued by the organization indicates that acts of threats, harassment, and … Continue reading “What Happened to Freedom of Expression in Cuba in 2020? / Cubalex”

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Rules in Favor of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara / Cubalex

Cubalex, 14 May 2021 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and its Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression (RELE) and for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (REDESCA) expressed concern about the escalation of repression against journalists, artists and human rights defenders in Cuba, in particular, members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), beneficiaries … Continue reading “The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Rules in Favor of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara / Cubalex”

International Human Rights Organizations Demand Release of Detained Journalist / Cublaex

Cubalex, 27 May 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), ARTICLE 19 Office for Central America and the Caribbean, and CUBALEX today demand the release of Mary Karla Ares Pérez, detained since April 30 in relation to her journalistic work. Ares is being held in the Western Women’s Prison in … Continue reading “International Human Rights Organizations Demand Release of Detained Journalist / Cublaex”

Update and Legal Analysis on the Case of Jailed Rapper Maykel ‘Osorbo’ Castillo / Cubalex

Cubalex, 3 June 2021 — On May 18 Maykel Castillo was arrested while he was at his house having lunch. They took him away without a shirt or shoes, and for 13 days he was in “forced disappearance.” The people close to him who went to ask about him at the police station were denied … Continue reading “Update and Legal Analysis on the Case of Jailed Rapper Maykel ‘Osorbo’ Castillo / Cubalex”