The Cuban intellectual remains in prison, waiting for a sentence.
Miami, United States. – Yunieski Lorences Domínguez and Rodel Barbaro Rodríguez Espinosa, two of the six citizens accused of participating in the peaceful protest that occurred in the crossroads (Clara Villa) of November 7, 2024 ―I The celebration of the trial against himconfirmed to Cubanet sources close to the case.
Barrenechea Chávez was not released, he also checked this medium.
The criminal process against the Cuban intellectual and the rest of the defendants of the same cause concluded on Wednesday. After more than 10 hours, in the Popular Provincial Court of Villa Clara and was concluded for sentence.
According to the accusation, after more than 48 hours without electricity, on the date of the demonstration, the journalist shouted “put the current; we want the current” and urged those present not to give up the protest. The Prosecutor’s Office requested for him a maximum penalty of six years in prison for the alleged crime of public disorders.
A relative of the writer pointed to Cubanet that the defense sustained the peaceful nature of the manifestation. “The five lawyers made a good defense and presented many witnesses; they alleged that what happened was a peaceful demonstration and that, therefore, it did not typify as a crime. The trial was very long due to the number of statements and people. Even, at one time the current was left.” The same source indicated that, of the six witnesses of the Prosecutor’s Office, five were members of the Ministry of Interior (Minint) and the sixth, militant of the Communist Party, who, when declaring, “far from accusing, ended up defending the defendants.”
Another family source said that defense witnesses were more coherent in their testimonies and that, added to the “good defense” of lawyers, they maintain hope of acquittal. However, the Cuban lawyer exiled in Miami Santiago Alpízar warned in statements prior to Cubanet That it was “very difficult” for the defendants to be acquitted, considering that these judgments have an exemplary effect within the mechanisms of repression of the regime.
During the view, witnesses consulted by Cubanet They described a strong militarization in the surroundings of the Provincial Court of Villa Clara, known as the Hearing, with men dressed as civilians who defined who could enter and who did not.
The opponent Guillermo Coconut FariñasGeneral Coordinator of the United Anti -Total Forum (Fantu), was arrested to prevent access to the trial.
The lawyer and director of the Cubalex Legal Information Center, Laritza Diversent, explained to Cubanet That, “in principle, the law establishes that the court has 15 business days (three weeks) to issue a sentence, but this period can be extended and the law does not establish how long; they can be three or four months, even more.”
This Tuesday, one day before the trial, Pen Internacional demanded the “immediate release” of Barrenechea Chávez and expressed concern for the process. “Cuban writers and artists continue to face a relentless persecution for their books, articles and protests. The systematic efforts of the government to silence them reveal the deep fear of freedom of expression that lies in the heart of repression in Cuba. The global community of Pen urges the immediate release of José Gabriel Barrenechea International
The organization also described the case as a demonstration of the “relentless effort” of the authorities to silence dissent
