The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, has refuted claims that protesters are imprisoned in Cuba, dismissing reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that allege repression and numerous arbitrary arrests on the island. In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan from Zeteo, during the United Nations General Assembly sessions in New York, Fernández de Cossío insisted that there are no jailed demonstrators in Cuba.
When directly questioned about the existence of individuals imprisoned for protesting against the government, he replied, "Arbitrarily, no." Hasan highlighted the reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which document systematic repression against dissenters, with hundreds of critics and protesters detained.
The Cuban official challenged the credibility of these reports, labeling them as lacking evidence. He accused Amnesty International of being funded by organizations opposed to the Cuban government, which, according to him, explains the bias in their findings. Nonetheless, the journalist pointed out that the organization has also strongly criticized governments such as those of the United States, Israel, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina.
Throughout the exchange, the deputy minister steadfastly denied acknowledging cases of political repression in Cuba while continuing to discredit international NGOs and question the legitimacy of their accusations. Additionally, he was questioned about Cuba's human rights record, the lack of democratic freedoms, the absence of a free press, and allegations that the island harbors individuals labeled as "terrorists" by the Trump administration.
De Cossío defended the Cuban political system and dismissed the criticisms. He also stated that Havana would provide its "full political support" to the government of Nicolás Maduro. However, he avoided clarifying whether this support would include military assistance, instead describing the question as "dangerous" and asserting that "Cuba will not go to war with the United States, it will give full political support to Venezuela, solidary support," he emphasized.
Addressing Cuba's economic constraints, Fernández de Cossío argued that the island is facing a critical situation due to pressure from Washington. He questioned, "How can any country sustain itself if the world's most powerful economy pressures and threatens other governments not to engage with Cuba?"
The conversation occurred alongside the debates of the UN General Assembly, where another dominant topic was the conflict in Gaza. The Cuban diplomat condemned the Israeli offensive as "genocide" and criticized the United Nations for its "inability to act."
In August 2025, Cuba ended the month with 1,185 political and conscience prisoners, marking the highest number recorded to date, as reported on September 10 by the organization Prisoners Defenders, which described this as a new monthly record on the island.
The Madrid-based entity's latest report documented the incarceration of 13 new political prisoners just in August, while four were released—three after completing their sentences and one through forced expatriation. The latter involved activist Aymara Nieto Muñoz, who was released under the condition of leaving the country. Nieto was transferred directly from prison to the airport, unable to bid farewell to her eldest daughter, and deported to the Dominican Republic with her husband and younger daughters.
From July 1, 2021, to the end of August 2025, Prisoners Defenders has registered a total of 1,882 individuals classified as political prisoners in Cuba, nearly all of whom are citizens without political affiliations who have been incarcerated after peacefully protesting against the regime.
The report highlighted that at least 33 of the 1,185 political prisoners were arrested as minors. Of these, 30 are still serving sentences, and three are being prosecuted without judicial oversight. Additionally, 122 women remain imprisoned for political or conscience-related reasons.
A total of 702 are categorized as prisoners of conscience, 447 as convicted on conscience grounds, and 36 as other political prisoners. These classifications reflect severe violations of human rights, due process, and judicial neutrality.
Furthermore, another report released in June revealed that in the first six months of the year, there were 24 deaths under state custody and 160 torture allegations, including beatings, deliberate denial of medical care, and psycho-emotional torture. Among the victims, at least 56 were imprisoned for political reasons.
Understanding the Human Rights Situation in Cuba
What does the Cuban government say about imprisoned protesters?
The Cuban government, represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, denies the existence of imprisoned protesters, dismissing reports from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as biased and lacking evidence.
How many political prisoners are currently reported in Cuba?
As of August 2025, there are 1,185 political and conscience prisoners in Cuba, according to the organization Prisoners Defenders. This figure is the highest recorded to date.
Have any minors been detained for political reasons in Cuba?
Yes, the report from Prisoners Defenders indicates that at least 33 minors have been detained for political reasons, with 30 still serving sentences and three undergoing prosecution without judicial oversight.
What are the main criticisms against the Cuban government regarding human rights?
Critics, including international human rights organizations, accuse the Cuban government of systematic repression against dissenters, lack of democratic freedoms, absence of a free press, and severe human rights violations including arbitrary detentions and torture.