Cuba prosecutors seek prison terms for protesters in Morón

Cuban prosecutors have requested prison sentences of up to 13 years for 18 individuals accused of sedition following an assault on a Communist Party headquarters in Morón. The incident occurred on March 14, driven by public indignation over severe electricity shortages and food scarcity. Among the accused are six minors, a development that Amnesty International has described as “worrying.”

The legal proceedings follow a period of intense social unrest in Cuba, where citizens have engaged in nighttime protests and “cacerolazos” (pot-banging) to express discontent with the economic crisis and prolonged blackouts. The country continues to face significant shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.

Separately, human rights organization Cubalex has raised alarms regarding the deteriorating health of political prisoner Ana Ibis Tristá Padilla at the La Veguita prison in Las Tunas. Tristá Padilla, serving a 14-year sentence, is reportedly suffering from renal and respiratory issues, including asthma, and lacks consistent access to necessary medications and oxygen. She has experienced significant weight loss and mobility issues due to severe pain.