Luis Robles Makes a Bold Escape from Cuba to Spain: Defying the Regime

Cuban activist Luis Robles Elizástigui, famously dubbed “the young man with the sign,” has successfully departed from Cuba to Spain, eluding the watchful eye of State Security after enduring years of imprisonment, harassment, and threats by the communist regime. His unexpected departure took the authorities by surprise, who had been exerting pressure on him for months to remain silent about his prison ordeal.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Robles shared with CiberCuba that, “They wanted me to leave, but without speaking.” He recounted how the officer tasked with monitoring him was caught off guard when he called Robles’ home, only to discover that the family had already discreetly left the island without notifying the authorities. Robles, his mother Yindra Elizástigui, and his seven-year-old son arrived at Adolfo Suárez Airport in Madrid on Monday, marking the beginning of a newfound freedom.

Prior to his departure, Robles asserted that State Security was aware of his desire to leave Cuba but had laid down conditions. “I told them that once my sentence was over, my intention was to leave, because both I and my family suffered threats. They wanted me out, but under the condition that I wouldn’t speak about my prison experience, under threat,” he explained.

Determined to evade interception, Robles chose to keep his method of escape a secret: “I decided to leave the country, but I didn’t disclose how. By the time they found out, I was already gone, which caught them off guard since I didn’t give them access to my life,” he stated.

At the age of 32, and originally from Havana, Robles was recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International following his arrest in December 2020. His arrest came after he brandished a sign in the bustling San Rafael Boulevard that read: “Freedom, no more repression, #FreeDenis,” in support of rapper Denis Solís. This peaceful act, captured by passersby and circulated on social media, became a symbol of civilian resistance and was featured in the music video for the anthem “Patria y Vida.” Ironically, this video was used by prosecutors as “evidence” against him.

During his trial, Robles faced charges of “resistance” and “enemy propaganda,” despite video footage clearly showing he neither resisted arrest nor incited violence. In March 2022, he was sentenced to five years in prison, with the ruling claiming he “responded to a call by influencer Alexander Otaola” and that his message aimed to “destabilize internal order.” This judicial decision faced sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. In 2024, the United States sanctioned the judges and prosecutors involved in the case — Gladys María Padrón Canals, María Elena Fornari Conde, Juan Sosa Orama, and Yanaisa Matos Legrá — for their role in the “arbitrary detention” and “severe human rights violations.” These officials and their families are now barred from entering U.S. soil.

While imprisoned at Combinado del Este prison, Robles suffered from punishment and isolation, as his family dealt with relentless harassment. His brother, Lester Fernández, was detained and fined 7,000 pesos on charges of “illegal departure from the country,” without any evidence against him. Yindra Elizástigui, his mother, emerged as a fierce advocate for political prisoners, publicly condemning the regime’s abuses. “We must continue to defend the innocent, because our children are not criminals,” she declared in 2023 after another denial of her son’s release.

Robles, a computer science graduate, had exhibited critical views even before his public protest. Days prior to his arrest, he recorded a video boldly stating, “We sincerely wish for a change in the system because communism has turned this country into a hell where peace and freedom are impossible to breathe.”