One week after his detention, the activist Yasmany González Valdés continues under interrogation at the State Security headquarters in Havana, Villa Marista. His wife, Ilsa Ramos, detailed 14ymedio that the Cuban regime is investigating him for the crime of “propaganda against the organs of the Government”.
Ramos was able to see her husband this Thursday when he brought him some personal hygiene products to the prison. The woman assures that the activist already has a lawyer who will represent him, but the police have not yet provided details about the accusation.
The young man, also known as Libre Libre, was arrested on April 20 after a “violent search” at his home in Central Havana. Around 15 political police agents participated in the search, who confiscated a mechanic’s overalls, a brush and his mobile phone, in what appears to be an investigation into the graffiti that has appeared in various iconic parts of the capital against the regime. Cuban.
According to the testimony of Yasmany González, on that occasion they did handwriting tests and also tried to detain him for non-payment of fines that had already been paid.
The Cultural Rights Observatory (ODC), which initially alerted about his arrest, recalled that the activist was summoned by the police at the beginning of April at the Zanja station, in the Cuban capital, where they linked him to the group that calls itself The New Directory (END). According to the testimony of Yasmany González, on that occasion they did handwriting tests on him and also tried to detain him for non-payment of fines that had already been paid.
The first poster signed by END appeared on March 20 on the facade of the Faculty of Physics of the University of Havana. The second, always with the same text –No to the PCC– was on a wall in Parque de Aguirre, on March 23. The third, painted on April 17, was placed at the entrance to the university stadium, on Ronda street. And the fourth and most recent appeared on the morning of April 20 in 7 Humboldt Street, in Center Havana. In a matter of hours he generated a strong police operation to cover the letters with paint and an “act of reparation”.
In addition, END remains active on social networks. On Instagram, he posted again on April 22 after the account had been blocked since March 2, when, he recalls the underground movement in a tweet, the “first action” was carried out. As to Twitterhis last interaction is from this April 27 with a reflection on Fidel Castro’s first visit to Russia, in 1963.
In 2022, after four days detained in Villa Marista, the activist, who works as a self-employed bricklayer, said that he would stop posting on social networks.
Yasmany González has been the object of investigation and harassment by the political police on several occasions. In 2022, after four days detained in Villa Marista, the activist, who works as a self-employed bricklayer, said that he would stop posting on social networks. Shortly before, he had been fined for denouncing human rights violations and demanding the release of those detained in the protests on July 11, 2021.
The Observatory recalls that González has been summoned, detained, fined and threatened with prison for his publications on social networks. The police accuse him of violating Decree Law 370.
The latest count by Prisoners Defenders indicates that in March there were eight new prisoners of conscience on the island, bringing the total to 1,066 Cubans in prison for political reasons. Among them are 120 women and 22 minors (29 boys and 4 girls). “All of them are tortured,” he denounces in his monthly report.
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