The Cuban government has escalated its efforts to criminalize exile by featuring police summonses in the Official Gazette against two activists living abroad, accused of crimes against State Security. In the extraordinary issue No. 47, dated August 19, 2025, the Ministry of the Interior included warrants against Miguel Gómez Bártulos and Seriocha Humberto Fernández Rojas, alleging their involvement in funding and instructing supposed sabotage actions in Matanzas, Havana, and Villa Clara.
Both activists were initially summoned to appear on July 14 at State Security offices, but they did not comply with the order. The Gazette warns that failure to appear within ten days of publication will result in being declared in contempt, allowing courts to proceed in their absence.
Miguel Gómez Bártulos, a member of the Cuba Primero movement and Miami resident, has condemned the maneuver as an attempt to intimidate him even from afar. According to the independent channel Cántalo TV, the summons was delivered to his mother in Cuba, described as a "cowardly and malicious" act intended to instill fear and exert emotional pressure on uninvolved family members.
Intimidation Tactics from Afar
"This is the regime's tactic to intimidate those who think differently, even from exile," the group denounced. For Fernández Rojas, also associated with Cuba Primero, the document accuses him of orchestrating attacks against state institutions, allegations that opposition organizations dismiss as part of Havana's political agenda.
From "Terrorists" List to Official Gazette
The warrants follow the recent release of the regime's National List of Persons and Entities Linked to Terrorism, which was submitted to the United Nations. This list includes both activists among 62 exiles and 20 organizations, mostly based in Florida. Known figures such as Alexander Otaola, Ana Olema Hernández, Orlando Gutiérrez Boronat, and Eliecer Ávila, along with opposition groups like Brothers to the Rescue, the FNCA, and Cuba Primero, are included without public evidence.
Although the regime claims these individuals are wanted for "terrorist acts," inclusion on this list holds no legal weight outside Cuba and is seen as a tool of propaganda and political repression. Through these Official Gazette publications, the Cuban regime not only reinforces its strategy of judicially targeting opponents beyond its borders but also sends a message to families on the island, trapped between fear and repression.
Understanding Cuba's Legal Actions Against Exiles
What are the accusations against Miguel Gómez Bártulos and Seriocha Humberto Fernández Rojas?
They are accused of funding and leading sabotage activities in Matanzas, Havana, and Villa Clara.
What happens if the summoned activists do not appear?
If they do not appear within ten days of the publication, they will be declared in contempt, allowing legal proceedings to continue in their absence.
How are the summonses perceived by opposition groups?
Opposition groups reject the accusations, viewing them as part of a political script by Havana to suppress dissent.