Related videos:
The non-governmental organization Cubalex reported on Tuesday a new wave of selective repression in Cuba, aimed at preventing activists and opponents from meeting with the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, Mike Hammer.
According to several publications on the social media platform X, between April 29 and May 19, arbitrary detentions, summonses, house arrests, and communications restrictions were documented against at least six members of independent civil society.
"We alert about the systematic repression by the Cuban regime to prevent these gatherings," stated Cubalex.
Arrests and harassment for attempting to meet with diplomats
According to the organization, the repressive actions included:
Juan Luis Bravo Rodríguez, an activist in Guantánamo, was summoned and questioned on May 16 about whether he intended to meet with the diplomat.
On May 18, Idelsys Pupo Labrada, the mother of the 11J prisoner William Leyva Pupo, was violently arrested and forced to get into a police patrol in Holguín to prevent her from attending a meeting with Hammer.
On May 19, the activist Vladimir Martín Castellanos and his wife were arrested in Puerto Padre, Las Tunas, during a police operation at their home.
In the same locality, the former political prisoner Ezequiel Morales Carmenate reported constant surveillance in front of his house.
On April 29, the activist Librado Linares was arrested while traveling to Santa Clara, where he was scheduled to participate in a meeting with the ambassador. He was taken to the State Security headquarters and subsequently placed under house arrest.
A strategy to isolate civil society
Cubalex believes that these events constitute a deliberate strategy by the Cuban regime to hinder international actors from accessing key testimonies regarding human rights violations.
The organization emphasizes that almost all the activists involved had scheduled appointments with Hammer when they were intercepted by State Security.
"These actions are part of a systematic pattern to isolate civil society, hinder independent oversight, and keep state repression mechanisms in the shadows," the statement claims.
Cuba accuses the U.S. of "interference."
Since his arrival on the island in November 2024, diplomat Mike Hammer has maintained an active schedule of meetings with opponents, journalists, religious leaders, and family members of political prisoners, which he has documented on his social media.
In light of this policy of engagement with civil society, the Cuban government has accused Hammer of "interventionist" behavior, alleging violations of the Vienna Convention. In April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned him for the third time to formally protest, but failed to halt his course of action.
Meanwhile, the official site Cubadebate published an editorial that described the diplomat as "disrespectful" and accused him of "inciting Cubans to act against their country," hiding behind his immunity.
A climate of bilateral tension
These events are part of a marked deterioration in relations between Cuba and the United States, which has intensified since the administration of Donald Trump, under which Havana was re-added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression in Cuba and U.S. Diplomatic Actions.
Why were the opposition members in Cuba detained before meeting with the U.S. ambassador?
The opponents were detained in an attempt by the Cuban regime to prevent them from meeting with Mike Hammer, head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana. The organization Cubalex reported these detentions as part of a deliberate strategy to hinder international actors' access to reports of human rights violations on the island.
What is the Cuban government's stance on the actions of Ambassador Mike Hammer?
The Cuban government accuses Mike Hammer of "interference" conduct. They allege that his actions violate the Vienna Convention and accuse him of inciting Cubans to act against their country. Despite formal protests, Hammer has maintained his agenda of supporting dissent and denouncing repression on the island.
What impact does Cuban repression have on the families of dissenters?
The repression in Cuba not only affects opponents but also their families. Cubalex has documented a pattern of harassment that includes arbitrary detentions of relatives, home surveillance, and threats, using the family environment as a tool for political pressure and punishment.
How has the U.S. Embassy in Cuba responded to the repression of the Cuban regime?
The United States Embassy in Cuba, under the leadership of Mike Hammer, has intensified its support for dissent and condemned the repression on the island. Hammer has held meetings with opponents, human rights activists, and families of political prisoners, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to fundamental freedoms.
Filed under: