As we mark the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests, a political prisoner's wife has raised concerns about the dire conditions in Mar Verde prison, located in Santiago de Cuba. She reports severe hunger, a bedbug infestation, and "all sorts of abuses" within the facility. Her husband also appears in a video shared on Saturday using the hashtag #5thAnniversary11J.
Yanelis Galván Cusa, the wife of detained political activist Ulises Reyes Ramís, revealed through a video posted on X by José Daniel Ferrer that her husband has been suffering for two months with a severely infected arm due to bedbug bites and is not receiving any medical care.
She further explained, "The water they provide is as black as mud. For meals, they are giving him two bananas with water of unknown origin."
Serious Health Concerns Amidst Family's Legal Threats
During a visit, Galván Cusa witnessed another inmate fainting, prompting his family to threaten legal action against the prison.
Reyes Ramís and his son Damián have been imprisoned since late 2025, accused of anti-government graffiti, as detailed by José Daniel Ferrer, who himself was once incarcerated at Mar Verde.
Symbolic Timing of the Testimonies
This testimony emerges on a day steeped in significance. Five years ago, Cuba experienced its most significant public demonstrations in decades, with protests erupting across numerous cities. The regime's reaction was a sweeping arrest campaign, resulting in hundreds of demonstrators being jailed, with some facing sentences of up to 25 years. Families of those imprisoned continue to speak out about their harsh living conditions.
Mar Verde is notorious among Cuban prisons, often criticized by human rights organizations. The prison housed Ferrer García, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), who was detained there at various times before eventually being exiled on October 13, 2025, after negotiations involving the Vatican.
Enduring Struggles and Human Rights Violations
Ferrer endured appalling conditions during his last stint at Mar Verde; his cell was overcrowded with six inmates, sweltering heat, and he suffered from diarrhea for 31 days, scalp injuries, and inadequate medical care. In June 2025, he went on a hunger strike to protest torture, isolation, and severe malnutrition.
His wife, Nelva Ortega, provided a stark account to Infobae: "They are burying him alive." In October 2024, Ortega protested outside Mar Verde in the rain, demanding updates on her husband's health.
Reports of brutal conditions at this prison are not new. On July 12, 2025, five Mar Verde officials were named on the Cuban Human Rights Foundation's List of Repressors due to their involvement in beatings and torture of prisoners.
Consistent Patterns of Abuse in Cuban Prisons
The recent video aligns with well-documented patterns across Cuba's penal system. The Cuban Prisons Documentation Center reported in July 2024 that poor nutrition leading to starvation, along with infestations of bedbugs, cockroaches, and diseases like dengue and tuberculosis, were rampant in the island's prisons.
In July 2023, at least 36 inmates went on hunger strikes to commemorate the July 11 protests; in 2024, the number was at least 22. Political prisoner Yan Carlos González died in July 2025 after a prolonged hunger strike in detention.
Prisoners Defenders indicates that as of early 2026, Cuba holds a record number of over 1,207 political prisoners, many of whom are jailed for participating in the July 11 protests and continue to endure deplorable conditions as reported by their families five years later.
Understanding the Plight of Political Prisoners in Cuba
What are the conditions like in Mar Verde prison?
Mar Verde prison is reported to have severe conditions, including extreme hunger, bedbug infestations, unsanitary water, and abuses against inmates.
Who is Ulises Reyes Ramís?
Ulises Reyes Ramís is a political prisoner in Cuba, detained for allegedly painting anti-government graffiti. He and his son have been incarcerated since late 2025.
How has the Cuban government responded to the July 11 protests?
The Cuban government responded to the July 11 protests with extensive detentions, resulting in hundreds of demonstrators being jailed, some with sentences as long as 25 years.