Cuban political prisoner's sister highlights family toll of 14-year sentence

Melanie Rodríguez Taboada, 23, has released a video detailing the emotional toll of her brother’s imprisonment in Cuba. Her brother, Duannis Dabel León Taboada, is serving a 14-year sentence at the Combinado del Este maximum-security prison following the July 11, 2021, protests.

In the video, disseminated by the organization Alas Tensas, Rodríguez Taboada expressed the exhaustion and frustration felt by families of political prisoners. She questioned whether she must wait the full 14 years to be reunited with her brother and family.

Rodríguez Taboada also highlighted other cases of repression, such as content creator Anna Bensi, who was sentenced to two years of limited freedom in October 2026. The testimony underscores the ongoing impact of political imprisonment on Cuban families.