Virgilio Mantilla Arango, a prominent opponent from Camagüey, has been released after completing a full four-year prison sentence, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH). On Monday, the organization highlighted on its X account that Mantilla was held under deplorable conditions for over four years, despite continuous protests from family and international organizations.
Shortly after his release was announced, Leticia Ramos Herrería, an activist with the Ladies in White, called for support for Mantilla. She warned that he emerged from prison "in the direst of poverty." Ramos Herrería expressed on Facebook, "He doesn't even have a sheet to sleep on, no phone, nothing. He hasn't asked for anything—it's me who is requesting help for him."
Background on Mantilla Arango's Incarceration
As the leader of the Unidad Camagüeyana organization, Mantilla took part in the July 11, 2021 (11J) protests, mere days after finishing a seven-month sentence in Kilo 8 prison. He was apprehended on July 16 alongside other demonstrators and was sentenced in September 2021 to three years and three months in prison.
Initially, his release was set for October 16, 2024. However, in March of that year, he faced new charges of "disrespect" following a protest with other inmates over the lack of food and medicine in prison. In February 2025, Mantilla narrowly avoided a fifth sentence after Kilo 7 prison authorities accused him of distributing a poem and exposing his cousin's hunger strike.
Current Political Imprisonment in Cuba
The advocacy group Prisoners Defenders reports that 1,176 individuals are currently imprisoned in Cuba for political reasons, marking the highest number since 2018.
Virgilio Mantilla Arango's Release and Political Context
Who is Virgilio Mantilla Arango?
Virgilio Mantilla Arango is an opposition leader from Camagüey, Cuba, known for his involvement in the July 11, 2021 protests. He was recently released after serving a full four-year prison sentence.
What led to Virgilio Mantilla's imprisonment?
Mantilla was arrested following the 11J protests and sentenced to over three years in prison. Additional charges and protests within the prison extended his incarceration.
How is the international community responding to political imprisonments in Cuba?
International organizations and activists continue to protest against the inhumane conditions and political imprisonments in Cuba, advocating for the release and support of political prisoners.