Cuba: Thirteen protesters receive up to 15 years in prison for participating in protests in 2022

A total of 13 Cuban protesters arrested They received sentences of up to 15 years in prison, after taking part in a protest in August 2022 against prolonged blackouts in Nuevitas, in the east of the island, human rights NGO Justicia 11J reported on Friday.

According to a list provided by Judge 11J to AFP, the sentences, notified this Friday to 10 men and 3 women, range between four and 15 years for the crimes of sedition, contempt, attack, enemy propaganda and sabotage, among others.

The convicts are part of the group of people who took to the streets on August 18 and 19, 2022 to demand better living conditions and put an end to the prolonged blackouts of up to 18 hours suffered by the population of Nuevitas, a municipality in the province of Camagüey located more than 600 km east of Havana.

These protesters were tried in January this year in a court in Camagüey, under a strong military and police presence, the Miami-based NGO Cubalex reported at the time.

Judge 11J specified that these convicts can still appeal their sentences. The permanent energy shortage that Cuba is experiencing had one of its most difficult years in 2022, with daily electricity cuts that affected the entire island and angered the population.

Outbreaks of anti-government protests like the one in Nuevitas are increasingly frequent in Cuba, despite the risk of arrests and harsh punishments faced by protesters.

The historic protests of July 11, 2021 left hundreds of protesters arrested, of which almost 500 were sentenced to up to 25 years in prison, according to the latest official data.

Human rights organizations estimate that there are more than 700 and more than 1,000, adding to the political prisoners detained for other events.

On March 17 and 18, the largest protests recorded since July 11, 2021 took place, with a balance of around 20 people detained, according to Justicia 11J.

In those days, hundreds of people took to the streets in Santiago de Cuba, the country’s second largest city, and in four other locations in search of electricity and food.

Another six prisoners from Caimanera, a municipality in the province of Guantánamo (east), are awaiting trial in prison, after demonstrating in May 2023 to complain about the lack of food and medicine.

The United States, the Catholic Church and the European Union called for the release of the arrested protesters.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.