Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara Remains Missing After Removal from Prison

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a renowned artist and political prisoner, is still missing as of Wednesday. This follows his removal from Guanajay maximum-security prison in Artemisa by State Security agents, without notifying his family or close associates of his whereabouts.

The situation remains uncertain just hours before he was expected to complete a five-year sentence handed down in 2022. As of now, Cuban authorities have yet to disclose any official information about his location or allow him to communicate with his family or friends.

Anamely Ramos, an activist and the artist’s main public spokesperson during his imprisonment, confirmed that the circumstances have not changed since Tuesday.

"The information we have today is the same as yesterday. They took him from the prison, and we have no idea where he is. He hasn't been allowed to contact his family or friends," Ramos shared on social media.

Ramos emphasized that there are no conflicting reports about the situation. "The information isn't confusing, nor are there multiple versions; this is the confirmed information we have about what's happening right now," she stated.

Continued Uncertainty Surrounding Otero Alcántara's Whereabouts

On Tuesday, Ramos was even more definitive in her description of the situation: "Right now, Luis Manuel is missing. He is not free. He hasn't been released. He is in the hands of State Security somewhere in Havana."

The family has confirmed, according to the activist, that Otero Alcántara is neither at his home in El Cerro nor in the San Isidro neighborhood. The only evidence of his removal from the prison came from other inmates.

"We know he was taken from Guanajay thanks to the solidarity of other prisoners," Ramos noted.

In statements to Martí Noticias, Yanelys Núñez, who manages the artist’s work and official page, shared the perspective of those close to him: "Until we have firsthand news, we consider him missing."

Fears Over Potential Repercussions

In recent months, human rights organizations had warned that Cuban authorities might use new charges or measures to prevent his release, a tactic they claim has been used against other dissidents.

The removal coincided with a speech by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz at the General Assembly, where he displayed photos of Cuban political prisoners and began by mentioning Otero Alcántara.

"His crime was being an artist," Waltz declared.

Concerns for His Health and Safety

The temporary disappearance of the artist follows months of reports regarding the harsh conditions of his imprisonment.

In March, agents from the State Security's Department 21 reportedly threatened his life inside the prison, leading to an eight-day hunger strike from March 30 to April 6.

On July 5, just three days before his removal, the Cuban Cultural Rights Observatory issued an alert about his deteriorating health.

In April, the Supreme People's Court dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Cubalex, affirming that he must serve his entire sentence until July 9 without any good behavior benefits. Furthermore, he was not among those granted a presidential pardon that month.

Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience and calls for his immediate and unconditional release without surveillance or restrictions. Meanwhile, Prisoners Defenders documented 1,281 political prisoners in Cuba as of June 2026, the highest number recorded by the organization.

In the absence of official information, Ramos urged the public to keep attention on the case and encouraged the media to also reach out to Yanelys Núñez, Salomé García, Katherine Bisquet, and Camila Lobón for updates.

"All the pressure we can apply is crucial. Hopefully, tomorrow we will have much clearer things to say. No one wants it more than we do," she concluded.