Cuban activist and actor Edel Carrero reported on Friday that he had been summoned by State Security to appear at Villa Marista, just two days after the fifth anniversary of the July 11 protests.
A Major from the Ministry of the Interior delivered the notice to his home without explaining the reason for what was termed an "interview," scheduled for Monday, July 13, at 10 a.m.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Carrero alerted his followers about the situation, making a public record before heading to the headquarters of the Department of State Security.
"I just received a summons from State Security for July 13, which is Monday. Today is July 10, 4:22 in the afternoon. A Major came with a situation for an interview at Villa Marista," Carrero explained in the video.
The activist openly questioned the officer's claim who handed him the document: "He expects me to believe that he, being a Major of the Ministry of the Interior, doesn't know why I'm being called in for an 'interview,' which you know means interrogation and psychological torture."
Carrero expressed his fear of the potential consequences of attending the summons: "I might go there for a supposed interview and end up imprisoned because that's how this dictatorship operates."
The activist highlighted the contradiction between the regime's actions and the country's ongoing crisis: "I'm making this video to let the world know that while Cuba sinks into misery, blackouts, chaos, drugs, everything—disease, assault—they focus on summoning innocent people like me, a law-abiding citizen who commits no crime."
On July 11, 2021, Carrero participated in protests outside the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) alongside actors Daniel Triana, Raúl Prado, and Yunior García.
He was violently detained by four State Security agents, taken to Vivac, and charged with "public disorder," a charge he refused to sign. He was also threatened with sedition and interrogated by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Carlos Aguilera from the Investigation Bureau.
Following the 11J protests, Carrero lost his job as an IT specialist at the Havana Theater Center, where director Marvin Yaquis Escobedo informed him that the position was reserved for "trustworthy" individuals. In November 2021, the Prosecutor's Office dismissed the criminal proceedings against him.
The summons for Monday coincides with the fifth anniversary of 11J, during which at least 338 individuals associated with those protests remain imprisoned, according to data from Justicia 11J. The total number of political prisoners in Cuba exceeds 1,281, based on estimates from May 2026.
The regime explicitly excluded those convicted of "crimes against authority"—a category used to criminalize the 11J demonstrators—from the pardon of 2,010 inmates decreed on April 2, 2026.
Villa Marista, the main headquarters of the Department of State Security in Havana, is recognized by international organizations like Amnesty International as a center for interrogations involving psychological torture, isolation, and pressure to sign documents renouncing activism.
Before entering Villa Marista on Monday, Carrero announced he would release another video: "On July 13, Monday, before I step into Villa Marista, I'm going to post another video so the entire world knows I'm entering there and that I hold the Castro-Canel dictatorship accountable for whatever happens to me."
Key Questions About the 11J Summons
What is the significance of Villa Marista in Cuba?
Villa Marista is the main headquarters for the Cuban Department of State Security in Havana. It is known for conducting interrogations and is recognized by Amnesty International as a site where psychological torture and other forms of pressure are applied.
Why was Edel Carrero summoned by State Security?
Edel Carrero received a summons to appear at Villa Marista for an "interview," although the specific reason for this summons was not disclosed. Carrero suspects it is related to his participation in the 11J protests and views it as a form of intimidation and psychological torture.
How did the 11J protests impact Edel Carrero's life?
Following his involvement in the 11J protests, Edel Carrero was detained, charged with public disorder, and lost his job. The protest and its aftermath have been significant in shaping his current activism against the Cuban regime.