Cuba political prisoner count reaches record 1,327

The NGO Prisoners Defenders reported that Cuba ended July with a record 1,327 political prisoners. The organization noted 36 new cases added during the month, 15 of which were linked to recent protests regarding power outages and demonstrations.

A prominent case involves 13-year-old Alex Javier Hernández González, who was reportedly detained and beaten by police during protests in Santiago de las Vegas on July 22. According to his mother, the teenager pleaded for mercy during the assault. He is currently held in a juvenile center near the Combinado del Este in Havana without a specified formal charge.

The report also highlights the detention of various artists, journalists, and activists. This includes musicians Pedro Ernesto Farías El Feno and Rolando Almenteros El Bohemio, as well as digital creator Yoesbel Rodríguez del Pino, who was placed under house arrest. Additionally, the NGO documented the arrest of Aniley Martínez Ramírez for providing food to a previously convicted activist.

While the NGO reports an increase in repression, the Cuban government maintains that there are no political prisoners in the country, asserting that those incarcerated have committed crimes defined by national legislation.