the activist Silverio Portal, leader of the Independent and Democratic Cuba (CID), He was released this Monday after having fully served his four-year prison sentence for contempt and public disorder.
“This is my letter of liberation from the small prison, for the big prison. Homeland, life and freedom,” Portal wrote on his Facebook profile along with the image of the document that proves his release from prison.
the opponent recorded a video along with his wife, Lucinda González in which he thanked everyone who has been supporting him during this time. “Silverio and I know that we were never alone. Only with the ‘ay’ from you, this has been a triumph,” González said.
“This blow now, going out into the street and seeing things as they are happening makes me a little nervous,” added the opponent who, however, was happy to be at home, although he announced that what he most wants is “freedom of the Cuban people”.
“We only want life, homeland and freedom, that’s our slogan since 11J,” González insisted, to which Portal added that he was dismayed by the number of people in prison as a result of the summer’s anti-government demonstrations.
The 73-year-old activist was sentenced to four years in prison in 2018 for the alleged crimes of public disorder and contempt, accusations frequently used by the authorities to imprison opponents.
Shortly after entering prison he suffered a thrombosis that paralyzed one side of his face and had to be treated for two strokes, derived from his hypertension problems.
In mid-2020, Portal suffered partial vision loss, reportedly caused by a beating by prison guards.
“We only want life, homeland and freedom, that is our slogan since 11J,” González insisted, to which Portal added that he was dismayed by the number of people in prison as a result of the demonstrations.
The opponent has been one of the political prisoners who has received the most international support in recent times. At least 150 opponents signed a letter in favor of him asking for his release and the UN, the European Parliament, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International, in addition to some governments such as the United States, demanded his immediate release. Liberty. He will now have to spend almost four months in prison 1580 to serve his sentence.
On December 1, 2020, Portal received an “extra-criminal license” for his health condition thanks to which he was able to return home, but just a year later he returned to prison to serve the rest of his sentence, something that was expected, although the opposition considered it a punishment for his declared intentions to participate in the Civic March for Change convened by Archipelago for 15N.
His sentence was completed on February 19.
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