Cubans Outraged Over MININT's New Power to Freeze Accounts

The recent authority granted to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) of Cuba to freeze bank accounts and assets "without delay and without prior notice" has sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Cubans expressed a mix of sarcasm and outrage, pointing out that this move will further complicate investment and entrepreneurship on the island.

Resolution 6/2026, signed on May 16 by General of the Army Corps Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, was published in the Official Gazette on Monday, May 18. This measure allows for the immediate freezing of bank accounts, real estate, virtual assets, and any other financial instruments without notifying the affected parties in advance.

Ricardo Castillo Rivera encapsulated the contradiction well: "They still want people to invest in Cuba. Anyone who does is either crazy or complicit with these thieves."

Yusniel Ortiz Ramírez echoed this sentiment: "And just a month ago, they were inviting merchants to invest in Cuba," referring to the investment forums the regime has promoted recently to attract foreign and private capital.

Adrian Benítez Donato also linked these issues: "I don't know what power they have to freeze anything... and for those who wanted to start a business or invest in Cuba."

Concerns about transactions via bank transfer and private enterprise were also prevalent, as the regulation turns any financial operation into a potential target for state intervention without prior procedural guarantees.

The resolution is part of a regulatory package approved in 2026, which already requires self-employed workers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MIPYMES), and cooperatives to secretly report suspicious transactions of their clients, as stipulated by Resolution 86/2026 of the Ministry of Finance.

Eduardo Hernández Martín delved deeper into the political implications: "If anyone plans to criticize the government, they should withdraw their money from the bank first. This law is meant to prevent people from protesting out of fear of being labeled terrorists and having their money seized. It's an indirect way to silence the populace."

This observation is significant because Article 6.4 of the resolution states that it is enough for it to be "public and notorious knowledge" that someone is linked to terrorism to proceed with freezing their assets, without the need for a criminal process.

Henry Carrasco Cobas mocked the only defense mechanism provided by the regulation: "They say that anyone whose money is frozen has 30 days to sue MININT in court. I haven't laughed this much at a joke in a while."

Article 42.3 of the resolution clarifies that "the filing of any appeal does not suspend or impede the effects of the administrative act."

Laura González Otero highlighted another contradiction: "I don't understand anything. The bank can freeze accounts... but it doesn't commit to helping retirees access the little money they have in their accounts."

Many Cubans joked about their funds being effectively frozen already. Miladys Romero commented: "Mine has been frozen for so long because I can't even remember the last time I was able to withdraw my salary."

Bairon Hecheverría was blunt: "So, for the first time, the dictatorship legalizes stealing from the people."

The most telling precedent of the political use of these tools occurred in May 2025, when the Ministry of Justice threatened to freeze the accounts of the Cuban Freemasonry if they did not accept government-imposed leadership.

Juancarlos Valle posed a question that resonated with many: "Who freezes GAESA? Someone tell me."