Two years for the crime of contempt is not enough for the Cuban Prosecutor’s Office. Yoandi Montiel Hernandez, the influencer known as The Cuban Cat revealed that the Public Ministry appealed his sentence and asked to raise it.
“The Prosecutor’s Office appealed now because they want to throw me out more, from Valle Grande I’m still in,” Montiel is heard saying, who questions his two-year prison sentence from the beginning because “nothing was violated, there is no law in the Penal Code Cuban that for speaking on the networks, throw them (in jail)”.
The information about the appeal was made known through an audio recorded by Montiel and broadcast by the opposition Yamila Maceo, on their Facebook pagewhere the humorist has also received comments of support.
“Freedom for El Gato and all prisoners”, “For telling the truth on networks they cannot do anything, they are spending years for pleasure”, are some of the messages in solidarity with the influencer.
The information about the appeal was known through an audio that Montiel recorded and was broadcast by the opposition Yamila Maceo on Facebook
On April 7, The Cuban Cat received the sentence, in a trial that was held a day earlier than expected, in which, according to opponent Osmay Pérez, the lawyers and the Prosecutor’s Office reached “an agreement” on the sentence. Pérez said that at that time there was a possibility that El Gato would be released in three or five months.
Montiel was arrested on April 12, 2021, at his home, where an operation from the Ministry of the Interior and some 20 police officers arrived. Until now he has been detained for more than a year, first he was taken to the Villa Marista prison and in May, he was transferred to the Valle Grande prison, where he remains.
According to the father, Lázaro Montiel, to Cuban Journal, El Gato was arrested for “having made fun of Miguel Díaz-Canel in his last direct broadcasts.” His mother has assured that the young man only told “the truth”.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our journal. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
