Director of Convivencia Study Center and Collaborator Detained by State Security

This past Friday, agents from Cuba's State Security detained Dagoberto Valdés Hernández, the director of the Convivencia Study Center (CEC), along with one of his associates, during a raid on his home in Pinar del Río province.

Hours later, the organization itself confirmed Valdés's release through a post on Facebook.

The CEC reported that the arrest was carried out by Major Ernesto, a State Security officer assigned to the institution. He arrived at Valdés's residence with a convoy from the Revolutionary National Police (PNR).

Initially, the whereabouts of Valdés were unknown as members of the center made efforts to locate him in various police and State Security facilities.

The organization noted that the officers did not provide a formal reason for the arrest at the time. Valdés was forced to vacate his home, which had visitors, lock it up, and accompany the officers without the ability to make any phone calls.

Later, Yoandy Izquierdo, another collaborator of the Convivencia Study Center, was also detained. Upon arriving at the Technical Investigations Department (DTI) in Pinar del Río, Major Ernesto informed him that he would be taken in for questioning as well.

According to a statement from Convivencia, the detentions were linked to Valdés Hernández's recent meeting with Mike Hammer, the U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires in Cuba.

While Izquierdo was accused of being present at the meeting, the organization insists he did not attend.

During the interrogation, a legal officer accused Valdés of terrorism and collaboration with a foreign power, warning that the authorities would not tolerate interactions between U.S. diplomats and Cuban citizens given the current internal situation in the country.

After over two hours of questioning, the officials ended the session with a warning document, which Valdés refused to sign.

The State Security advised him against accepting future invitations from the U.S. diplomat or attending events hosted by the Embassy, although they granted permission for travel to Havana for religious, academic, family, or health reasons.

Additionally, authorities cautioned that "sharing enemy ideas" is considered a crime and stated that they would not allow situations similar to those in other regional countries to occur.

The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Press and Expression (ICLEP) has highlighted that Valdés Hernández has long been subjected to harassment, threats, smear campaigns, and restrictions on his freedom of movement due to his opinions and intellectual work.