Sandro Castro's Latest Venture: The "NotiSandro" Series

Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro, announced on Monday that he plans to launch a personal news segment on his social media platforms this week. Adopting his "vampire" alter ego, he intends to discuss three pressing Cuban issues: the situation of Javier "Spiderman," Jonathan David's case, and the ongoing fuel crisis.

"This week, I'll address various topics and respond to the concerns of my followers," Sandro stated. "Tomorrow, Tuesday, I'll tackle Javier Spiderman's case, then Jonathan David's, and finally, I'll discuss the fuel situation. The vampire will always have his say," he shared on his post.

Many Cubans have reacted with sarcasm to Sandro's announcement, viewing him as a privileged figure trying to play commentator on the country's problems without facing any real repercussions.

Cuba's Fuel Crisis and the Irony of Sandro's Commentary

The starkest contrast comes from Sandro's plan to cover the case of Javier "Spiderman" Martín, a Cuban MMA champion who was violently arrested on April 24 and taken to Villa Marista—the Political Police headquarters—after over a week of peaceful protests from his balcony. He was raising awareness about social issues, synthetic drug use, and street violence.

Lisandra Cuza, Spiderman's wife, confirmed his arrest on April 25, with the Ministry of the Interior admitting that he was "beaten for resisting." While Spiderman faces the harsh reality of state security, Sandro Castro remains safely within his social media bubble, discussing his views without any consequences.

Sandro himself was previously summoned by state security for his satirical videos but was let off with a mere warning, a leniency uncommon to ordinary Cubans.

The Controversial Persona of Sandro Castro

It is notably ironic for Sandro to comment on the fuel crisis. Cuba is grappling with one of its worst energy shortages, with electricity generation deficits exceeding 1,400 MW daily, causing power outages that impact up to 62% of the nation for more than 20 hours. Queues for gasoline can last between 15 and 25 hours just to get 20 liters, and even President Díaz-Canel admitted on April 16 that there's "hardly any fuel."

Sandro, who owns the EFE bar in Vedado with a minimum table spend of 15,000 Cuban pesos—equivalent to around two months' average salary in Cuba—has previously flaunted his full gas tank during the 2019 blackouts.

The "vampire" persona Sandro projects is not new. It is an eccentric alter ego through which he releases grotesque videos, parodies, and critiques of Cuba's crisis. In March, he was profiled by The New York Times and interviewed by CNN, where he claimed that "most Cubans want capitalism, not communism," and criticized Díaz-Canel's leadership.

Starting April 20, Sandro has also been distributing food boxes to vulnerable people on Havana's streets, sparking debate over whether this is a genuine act of solidarity or a calculated image strategy. "There is no greater happiness in my heart right now than helping my Cuba," he declared, during a week when Spiderman was telling the truth from his balcony and ended up in Villa Marista for it.

The weekly "NotiSandro" is the latest chapter in the saga of a character who, with each stunt, draws attention while millions of Cubans endure life without electricity, food, or freedom of expression. This is the same young man who, in February 2021, bragged about driving his Mercedes-Benz at high speed through Havana, saying, "We're simple people, but we have to bring out the toys from home."