The wife of Ernesto Ricardo Medina, one of the founders of the independent Cuban audiovisual project El4tico, recently shared a poignant story on Facebook. During a prison visit to her husband, their young daughter Emma asked, "Mommy, why is Daddy in jail?"
Doris Santiesteban Batista, known on social media as Doris Sant Bat, revealed this emotional moment on her Facebook profile. She described how her daughter, just around three or four years old, posed the question right in front of her father.
"I had to ask her to repeat it to make sure she really asked me that," Doris recounted. Looking at Ernesto, she told Emma, "Honey, Daddy’s not in jail. He's on a mission from God to turn bad people into good ones with beautiful deeds. He'll be home with us soon."
The visit also included a birthday celebration inside the prison, complete with cake and ice cream, as Doris shared.
"I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat. I usually try to stay strong when I leave, but this visit was particularly emotional," she wrote.
Doris admitted she had no clear answer for her daughter's question: "I don't have a straightforward response to Emma's question because there isn't one. How can I tell her that her father is in jail for expressing his feelings when I want Emma to grow up unafraid to express herself?"
Arrest and Charges Against El4tico Members
Ernesto Ricardo Medina and his colleague, Kamil Zayas Pérez, were arrested in the early hours of February 6 in a nighttime operation by State Security in Holguín. During the raid, authorities seized their work equipment, including a laptop, camera, mobile phone, tripod, and router.
The Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Holguín charged them with "propaganda against the constitutional order" and "incitement to commit a crime," offenses that could lead to up to nine years in prison. A habeas corpus petition filed on their behalf was denied by the Provincial Court, which also extended their provisional detention.
As of Doris's post, both young men had been detained for over four months without trial or sentencing.
International Outcry and Defiance
Last Monday, Kamil Zayas Pérez sent out a handwritten statement from prison, defiantly challenging the regime and urging Cubans, "A dignified Cuban should not fear speaking their mind or stepping back in this time of true men."
Ernesto Medina, meanwhile, refused to record a video of repentance and retraction that State Security agents allegedly demanded, according to a letter shared by his mother in April.
The case has drawn international attention: the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Inter-American Press Association have called for their immediate release, while the U.S. State Department has condemned their detention.
Doris closed her post with a phrase that encapsulates her resilience in facing this ordeal: "May God bless everyone who wishes us harm."
Key Questions About the Detention of El4tico Members
Why was Ernesto Ricardo Medina arrested?
Ernesto Ricardo Medina was arrested on charges of "propaganda against the constitutional order" and "incitement to commit a crime," which could result in a prison sentence of up to nine years.
What is the current status of the legal proceedings?
As of now, both Ernesto Medina and Kamil Zayas Pérez have been held for over four months without a trial or sentencing. A habeas corpus petition in their favor was rejected, and their detention has been extended.
How has the international community reacted to their detention?
The international community, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Inter-American Press Association, has called for their immediate release. The U.S. State Department has also condemned their detention.