The Outspoken Cuban Reacts to U.S. Visa Restrictions: "Visiting That Country Has Never Crossed My Mind"

The pro-government Cuban journalist Pedro Jorge Velázquez, known on social media as "The Outspoken Cuban," has responded to the United States imposing visa restrictions on him due to alleged involvement in harassment campaigns against U.S. diplomats stationed in Cuba.

In a lengthy statement posted on his X account, the regime's spokesperson portrayed himself as a victim of political retribution.

"I am just an ordinary young Cuban. For the past five years, I've been working through social media and collaborating with the press. I have no employment ties with the Cuban government: I am currently not employed by any media outlets or state institutions," he stated.

Regarding the sanction imposed by the U.S. government, he dismissed it as "irrelevant."

"I have never applied for or had a visa to enter the U.S. The idea of visiting that country, with so much beauty in Latin America and such humanism in my country's neighborhoods, has never crossed my mind," he affirmed.

Washington's measure is part of a policy announced by the State Department targeting individuals linked to harassment and intimidation acts against its diplomatic staff on the island.

The U.S. government accuses The Outspoken Cuban of actions against the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Mike Hammer, including disseminating sensitive content like images showing diplomatic plates and vehicles.

He vehemently denied the accusations. "I've never seen Mike Hammer in my life. I can't 'harass' someone I've never encountered," he stated in another message.

He also claimed that what has been labeled as harassment was, in fact, a "journalistic investigation" into the purchase of fuel by U.S. diplomats in Cuba.

According to him, he demonstrated that U.S. diplomats in Havana purchase fuel (gasoline) in Havana: "the same fuel that they block from Cuba is then consumed by them."

He argued that the sanction sets a "precedent of censorship and coercion against any young Cuban who speaks out against the blockade on Cuba," labeling it an "obvious attack on the free and independent journalism I practice."

Visa restrictions for Cubans were announced after Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that Washington is aware of the identities of those involved in harassment acts against the head of the diplomatic mission in Havana.

"I want these individuals to understand that we know who they are and that we will respond accordingly," he wrote on X.

The measures involve canceling existing visas, permanently barring entry into the United States, and revoking ongoing immigration processes for those engaged in such behaviors.

This week, Washington announced new sanctions against Cuban citizens identified as participants in hostile gatherings in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana and in acts of repudiation and demonstrations against their diplomats.

Authorities have indicated that they are visually documenting those involved as part of a verification process and potential future sanctions.

In this context, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart publicly supported the measure, highlighting that "anyone who threatens U.S. officials will face consequences."

Meanwhile, the State Department reiterated that its diplomats will continue to engage with the Cuban people "despite the regime's failed intimidation tactics."

The decision is part of a policy to respond to acts deemed hostile against foreign representatives, aligning with international standards that require diplomats to perform their duties without facing intimidation.

Meanwhile, The Outspoken Cuban concluded his thread on X by asserting: "Here I will remain, in Cuba, telling the truth about my circumstances, the harshness of these times, making the necessary criticisms, and advocating for a better world."