Independent activist and journalist Ángel Cuza Alfonso has been released after spending more than two years behind bars on charges that opposition groups have labeled as politically motivated and fabricated. This news was confirmed on Saturday via social media by fellow activist Thais Franco, who was arrested alongside Cuza during a peaceful protest on Havana's Obispo Street in April 2021.
"My friends, our brave brother, Ángel Cuza, has just been freed. Thank God," Franco expressed in a Facebook post.
Cuza was initially taken into custody in December 2022 at a store in Old Havana while waiting in line to purchase chicken. According to Cuza's own account, he was arrested by police officers following false allegations of disturbing public order, allegedly for carrying "sticks and stones," charges he vehemently denied, supported by witness testimonies that also refuted the claims.
In November 2023, the Centro Habana Municipal People's Court sentenced him to one year and six months in prison, alongside two other young men, Lázaro Rolando Kessel Barrueto and Yasser Rivero Bonn.
Legal Battles and Allegations of Bias
Cuza reported that the trial was riddled with irregularities, dominated by regime supporters, and not all defendants had legal representation. A collaborator with the independent media outlet CubaNet, Cuza has been persistently targeted by Cuban authorities for his outspoken criticisms of repression, the humanitarian crisis on the island, and the erosion of fundamental freedoms.
Previous Arrests and Ongoing Persecution
Previously, in 2021, Cuza was jailed for taking part in the April 30th protest on Obispo Street in support of artivist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. He was released in January 2022 after months of detention.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ángel Cuza's Release
Why was Ángel Cuza arrested in December 2022?
Ángel Cuza was arrested on false charges of disturbing public order while waiting in line at a store in Old Havana.
What were the irregularities in Cuza's trial?
The trial was criticized for being biased, with a significant presence of regime supporters and lacking legal representation for all defendants.