Cuban political prisoner Yasmany González Valdés shared photos on Monday during his first temporary release from prison in three years, revealing a shocking physical decline. Once athletic and muscular, he now appears emaciated, with a sunken face and extremely thin arms.
"The images speak louder than words," wrote González Valdés from his wife Ilsa Ramos' profile.
The activist and rapper was sentenced to four years in prison in February 2024 for "propaganda against the constitutional order" after painting anti-government graffiti in Havana. His messages included "I don't vote in a dictatorship. The 75 live," referring to the 2003 Black Spring prisoners. His wife called the trial a "judicial circus."
The distressing transformation shown in the images comes as no surprise to those following his case. In September 2025, Ilsa Ramos described her husband as "a skeleton," with a sunken face, "stick-like" arms, and pants that fell off due to extreme thinness. He lost all his teeth, unable to complete dental work paid for before his arrest.
Human Rights Concerns at Combinado del Este
Earlier reports highlighted a drastic reduction in food rations for inmates at Combinado del Este, Cuba's largest prison, often accused by human rights organizations of torturing and mistreating dissidents.
González Valdés clarified in his post that his release was temporary: "I am not free, but on minimal security. I work to show I'm not a criminal; I'm a working man, not a murderer or a thief, but a POLITICAL PRISONER, even if they don't acknowledge me as such."
He warned the regime directly: "If they revoke my release for this post, it will only highlight the repression against those who speak the truth."
A Call for International Attention
In the photos, he stands wrapped in the Cuban flag, raising a defiant index finger, with tattoos on his back reading "Free or Martyr," "P11·75," and the date "20-4-2023," the day of his arrest.
González Valdés appealed to the international community to "investigate thoroughly," referencing his "brothers of 11J" and others punished for exercising their right to protest or free speech. He quoted José Martí: "The bodies of martyrs are the most beautiful altar of honor."
The persecution against him began before his final arrest. In April 2022, he was fined under Decree Law 370 for criticizing the regime online, and later that year, he was detained while protesting outside the Supreme Court in solidarity with the 11J prisoners. After his 2023 arrest, he was held at Villa Marista for a month before being transferred to Combinado del Este.
Internet Access Cut Off
His case is part of ongoing repression. Prisoners Defenders reported 1,192 political prisoners in Cuba in December 2025, a record high, with González Valdés among 17 imprisoned Cuban artists.
Following his temporary release, Ilsa Ramos reported losing internet access: "They cut off the internet; I can't do anything for now. It seems what my husband Yasmany González Valdés said carries weight."
Conditions in Cuban prisons have worsened amid the economic crisis, with inmates and families fearing death inside due to disease outbreaks, beatings, and deaths in custody documented in 2026.
Key Questions About Cuban Political Prisoners
What led to Yasmany González Valdés' imprisonment?
Yasmany González Valdés was imprisoned for "propaganda against the constitutional order" after creating anti-government graffiti in Havana.
How has Yasmany González Valdés' health changed since his imprisonment?
He has experienced a significant physical decline, going from an athletic build to being emaciated, with a sunken face and thin arms.
What are the conditions like in Combinado del Este prison?
Combinado del Este is notorious for poor conditions, including reduced food rations and allegations of torture and mistreatment.