“The Cuban regime is responsible for the terrible ongoing abuses against the island’s political prisoners,” the State Department said.
MIAMI, United States. – The Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States Department of State reported this Monday “alarming reports” about alleged abuses against the Cuban political prisoner Onaikel Infante Abreu in the Agüica prison, in the Colón municipality, Matanzas, and held the Cuban regime responsible for the “terrible continuous abuses” against political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
“The alarming reports that Cuban political prisoner Onaikel Infante Abreu, imprisoned for peacefully protesting, was tortured and raped in the Agüica prison are outrageous. The Cuban regime is responsible for the terrible ongoing abuses against the island’s political prisoners and prisoners of conscience,” the office wrote in a post on X.
The Trump Administration will continue to denounce the dictatorship’s horrendous crimes, demand that those responsible be held accountable, and support the Cuban people, who deserve to be free from tyranny.
— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) January 26, 2026
In the same message, Washington stated that “the Trump Administration will continue to denounce the horrendous crimes of the dictatorship, demanding that those responsible be held accountable, and supporting the Cuban people, who deserve to be free from tyranny.”
Organizations and independent press media have warned about attacks and sexual violence against Infante Abreu during his detention in Agüica. Cuba Center denounced “torture, mistreatment and sexual rape” against the political prisoner, and attributed responsibility to the “political police.” For her part, the prisoner’s wife, Sujay Acosta, denounced in statements to the media Cuba DNA that he had been sexually abused while in a punishment cell.
#Cuba #IACHR expresses concern about the critical health situation of Onaikel Infante Abreu, who is deprived of liberty in the Agüica Prison in #Matanzason charges related to the exercise of his freedom of expression. According to information, it would also have been… pic.twitter.com/GumvJm2jIW
— IACHR – IACHR (@CIDH) January 23, 2026
Onaikel Infante Abreu, who was arrested on October 27, 2023, according to the Prisoners Defenders recordis serving an eight-year sentence in the Agüica prison, in Matanzas. The same organization records health problems reported in its file, including epilepsy and malnutrition, as well as a reference to throat cancer.
According to CubalexInfante Abreu was arrested after participating in a peaceful protest on the roof of his home and, during his imprisonment, he has been a victim of attacks and cruel treatment. The organization has also reported threats against his wife for making his case visible.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has also referred to the situation of Infante Abreu. In a post on Xthe IACHR expressed concern about his condition and mentioned that he was in the Agüica prison on charges related to the exercise of fundamental rights.
