In another display of repression, Cuba's State Security urgently summoned a young woman in Santiago de Cuba for questioning after she shared a social media poll asking people to vote for either Marco Rubio or Miguel Díaz-Canel as the country's president.
Twenty-four-year-old Selena Lambert Ortega, known on Facebook as "Ojos Bellos Lambert," posted a poll on Monday in the "Buy and Sell in Santiago de Cuba" group, inviting users to express their opinion on who should lead Cuba.
Just hours after the poll went live, political police notified her to immediately report to the 2nd Police Unit in Santiago de Cuba, infamously known as "El Palacete" for its political interrogations, as reported by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on Tuesday.
"At this moment, the young woman is undergoing questioning by State Security agents, while her family waits outside the unit, distressed and without official information on her status," Mayeta revealed on social media.
Lambert posted the poll on Facebook around 11:00 p.m. Monday, and it went viral in less than 24 hours. "The presidential elections in Cuba have begun. Leave your vote," she wrote, encouraging users to choose with a "like" for Rubio and a "love" emoji for Díaz-Canel.
By the time of this report, over 36,000 individuals had interacted with the post, and nearly 5,000 had commented.
In total, 35,000 users favored the Cuban-American and current U.S. senator, while only 475 supported the Cuban regime's representative.
Mayeta, who also remarked on the voting, emphasized that "Selena's only 'crime' was allowing the people to speak."
"A simple Facebook poll ended up exposing something the regime cannot tolerate: thousands of Cubans publicly prefer an American politician over the Communist Party's imposed leader," he noted.
He further warned that the incident is a fresh indication of the lack of freedom of expression in Cuba, where "any show of independent political thought is met with summonses, threats, and interrogations."
The journalist, a staunch critic of Cuba's dictatorial regime, demanded the "immediate release of Selena Lambert Ortega" and held "State Security directly responsible for any physical or psychological harm she may suffer."
"Silence shields the oppressors. Visibility protects the victim," he concluded.
Key Questions on Freedom of Expression in Cuba
What was the content of the poll shared by Selena Lambert Ortega?
Selena Lambert Ortega shared a poll on Facebook asking users to vote for either Marco Rubio or Miguel Díaz-Canel as the president of Cuba.
How did the Cuban authorities respond to the poll?
Cuban authorities summoned Selena Lambert Ortega for questioning at a notorious police unit known for political interrogations.
Why is this incident significant?
The incident highlights the lack of freedom of expression in Cuba and how independent political opinions are suppressed by the regime.