Dr. Amílcar Andrés Bravo, a Cuban physician with multiple specialties and a master's degree, took to Facebook this Saturday to publicly expose the actions of State Security. On March 10, without prior notice, agents visited him at his workplace, threatening to imprison his children, who are part of the Fuera de la Caja Cuba collective, and pressuring him into resignation, followed by a travel ban.
The two officers arrived at the Cuban Sports Research Center (CIDC) where Amílcar had been employed for over three years, insisting that he stop his children, Abel and Bety, from publishing further videos.
"They began by threatening to incarcerate my children if they continued with the videos, stating that I had to make them stop," the doctor recounted, firmly rejecting their demands.
Amílcar expressed his support for his children, stating, "I couldn't stop them because I share their beliefs, support everything they do, and am proud of them."
The officials also showed him a photo of his children alongside Ana Sofía Benítez Silvente (Anna Bensi), her mother Caridad Silvente, David Espinosa, Iván Daniel, and journalist Camila Acosta, branding them as "bad influences" and "counter-revolutionaries."
In response to the repeated threats, Amílcar stood his ground. "If they went through with it, I'd not allow it. They'd have to go through me first," he declared.
The Aftermath of State Security's Visit
Following the encounter, Amílcar informed the CIDC director and offered his voluntary resignation to avoid causing issues. A week later, the director reported external pressures from the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (Inder).
Upon resigning, Amílcar confirmed the travel restrictions imposed on him, as the agents had warned. His lost salary of 6,000 Cuban pesos, equivalent to about $11 per month, was vital for his family, covering groceries for only four to five days.
Amílcar expressed deep outrage over how State Security manipulated his situation. "They use my case in interviews with the youth to intimidate, saying that the doctor was fired and restricted. This is an act of cowardice," he emphasized.
Growing List of Reprisals Against Fuera de la Caja Cuba
Amílcar's denunciation adds to a series of documented retaliations against Fuera de la Caja Cuba since early 2026. These include telecom monopoly Etecsa disabling phones, hacking of WhatsApp accounts, and summoning family members by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).
On April 26, member Karel Daniel Hernández Bosques revealed that agents threatened imprisonment, stating "it's illegal not to be communist here," and a day prior, State Security summoned his mother to the PNR in Cerro with just an hour's notice.
Anna Bensi and her mother Caridad Silvente have been under house arrest since March 25, facing charges with possible sentences ranging from two to five years.
Amnesty International has documented these incidents, urging Cuban authorities to halt the harassment.
Amílcar, raised by Ministry of the Interior officials and whose perspective shifted after four international medical missions, concluded his statement resolutely: "My resistance isn't creative; it's stoic."
Understanding the Reprisals Against Cuban Activists
What actions did State Security take against Amílcar Andrés Bravo?
State Security threatened to imprison his children, pressured him to resign from his job, and imposed travel restrictions on him.
How did Amílcar respond to the threats against his children?
Amílcar firmly rejected the demands, expressing his support for his children's actions and beliefs.
What is Fuera de la Caja Cuba, and why is it targeted?
Fuera de la Caja Cuba is a collective that produces videos critical of the Cuban government, making it a target for state reprisals.