Journalist José Jasán Nieves, who leads the platform El Toque, revealed on Thursday that the Cuban regime is attempting to invent criminal charges against his team members and collaborators, marking a fresh wave of harassment against the independent media outlet.
Nieves shared this accusation on his Facebook account, stating that the state television's media offensive launched on Wednesday is designed to justify a criminal investigation that El Toque had already forewarned about in September 2024.
"Back then, collaborators and individuals not directly tied to the Mas Voces Foundation were subjected to psychological torture sessions lasting over eight hours at Villa Marista to coerce them into 'confessing' to a supposed criminal case against El Toque," Nieves detailed.
A year later, according to the statement, these declarations were manipulated and broadcast on national television, a common tactic by the regime to discredit journalists and dissidents.
Nieves stated that the official attack aims to link him to currency trafficking and tax evasion crimes, basing these allegations on funds from programs supported by the United States Embassy in Havana.
Official spokesperson Humberto López also labeled the media's operations as "economic terrorism," a charge nonexistent in Cuban legislation, and suggested adding Nieves and his team to a so-called "National Terrorist List," as per article 143 of the Penal Code.
In his post, Nieves clarified that both Mediaplus.Experience INC. and the nonprofit Mas Voces Foundation INC. are legally registered as providers for the U.S. federal government, with their contracts being public and transparent.
"We collaborate with the U.S. Embassy to support social and cultural projects, never subversive ones," he emphasized.
The director of El Toque further condemned the broadcast for displaying personal information and his home address, describing it as doxing and media harassment.
He also refuted the manipulation regarding the purchase of his home, describing it as a "common mortgage transaction in any country, except in an economy like Cuba's, devastated by the dictatorship of the past 65 years."
Nieves warned that the campaign against El Toque is a diversion tactic to shift attention away from the regime's economic policy failures and the collapse of the currency system.
"It's the only way the Cuban government can respond to citizens' demands given their inability to handle the crisis they have created," he wrote.
He concluded his message by reaffirming the outlet's mission: "We will continue to deliver journalism and information services. Let them rage louder, they won't silence us."
Recently, Nieves was targeted in a demonstration of repudiation in Mexico, led by members of the so-called Mexican Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, a group known for supporting the Havana regime and participating in official activities of the Cuban embassy.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cuban Regime's Harassment of Journalists
What charges is the Cuban regime trying to fabricate against El Toque?
The Cuban regime is attempting to fabricate charges of currency trafficking and tax evasion against El Toque, based on alleged funds from U.S. Embassy programs in Havana.
How has the Cuban regime manipulated information against El Toque?
The regime has manipulated statements made under duress from El Toque's collaborators and presented them on national television to discredit the outlet and its journalists.
What is the significance of the "economic terrorism" label used by the Cuban regime?
The term "economic terrorism" is not recognized in Cuban law, but it is being used by the regime to create a narrative that frames El Toque's operations as a threat, despite no legal basis for such a charge.