Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's Whereabouts Unknown, Says Cuban Activist Anamely Ramos

On Tuesday, Cuban activist and curator Anamely Ramos raised the alarm about the disappearance of artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. According to Ramos, he was removed from the maximum-security Guanajay prison by State Security, just two days shy of his official release date.

Ramos confirmed this development in a Facebook post from Washington D.C., where she is visiting for three days. "As of now, Luis Manuel is missing. He is neither free nor released. He is in the hands of State Security somewhere in Havana," she wrote. Ramos has been the primary public spokesperson for Otero Alcántara during his five-year imprisonment.

Family and Friends Left in the Dark

Neither Otero Alcántara's family nor close friends have received any official word on his whereabouts, Ramos noted. "We only know he was taken from Guanajay through the solidarity of other prisoners," she emphasized, adding that the regime has provided no explanation for the transfer.

The five-year sentence handed to Otero Alcántara was set to expire on July 9, a date confirmed by the Supreme People's Court in April 2026 after rejecting a habeas corpus appeal filed by the organization Cubalex. Human rights groups and family members fear the regime might concoct new charges or keep him hidden to prevent his actual release.

Background and Concerns for Safety

Otero Alcántara, co-founder of the San Isidro Movement, was arrested on July 11, 2021, while attempting to join the historic 11J protests. He was convicted in June 2022 of "insulting national symbols," "contempt," and "public disorder." Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience, demanding his unconditional release.

The transfer from Guanajay occurs amid heightened concern. On July 5, the Cuban Cultural Rights Observatory issued an alert about the artist's deteriorating health. Earlier this year, from March 30 to April 6, 2026, Otero Alcántara went on an eight-day hunger strike after receiving death threats from State Security agents at the prison.

Since June 12, Cubalex and Otero Alcántara's studio have been counting down to July 9, calling for a release "without conditions, without surveillance, without exile, and without fabricated charges."

Calls for Unity Amid Uncertainty

Ramos urged continued pressure and announced that the latest updates would be posted on the artist's official page. She also appealed to the public's sense of humanity amidst collective anxiety: "Our political prisoners are human beings, not just numbers or gossip. They are surrounded by many emotions, much anxiety, and much uncertainty."

"We'll explain more tomorrow on his page, but all the pressure we can apply is crucial. Hopefully, we'll have clearer things to say tomorrow. No one wants this more than we do," Ramos concluded.

Writer and researcher Mónica Baró also called for unity, cautioning against conflicts between activists and social media users over the news. In a Facebook post, she highlighted the artist's inclusive nature and criticized any divisions over his potential release.

"Luis Manuel never created hierarchies or boundaries in how he treated people," Baró wrote, emphasizing that any Cuban has the right to care about his fate or celebrate his possible freedom.

She urged generosity in the face of a lack of official information, noting that Cuba operates under a regime characterized by opacity, and recent blackouts have further hindered communication with family members on the island.

"Luis Manuel is a public figure who built his identity with a unifying spirit. It doesn't make sense to disconnect people from him, to silence, offend, or fight while a high-ranking official sits comfortably reviewing reports of political repression," she remarked.

Baró stressed that regardless of how this situation unfolds, Otero Alcántara will need societal support after five years in prison. "The last thing we need is to exclude each other and pass judgments," she said, insisting that the common goal should remain the defense of human rights, the end of the dictatorship, and the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba.

"Yes, we need to be careful with information, but let's also treat each other with generosity. We face a regime lacking transparency, with high levels of opacity. We've been in a blackout for two days, both in Cuba and for those of us with family there, and it's understandable that inaccuracies happen amid all this. I haven't seen anyone talking about Luis Manuel on social media in the last few hours who wouldn't be delighted by his freedom. We're so desperate for good news that we sometimes jump the gun. But please, let's not turn Luis Manuel's possible release into a fight over who has more or fewer rights to feel, speak, or act," she concluded.