An activist was arrested and held for two days after attempting to submit a habeas corpus petition at the Provincial People's Court in Havana on behalf of artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. This was reported by activist Anamely Ramos during a live broadcast on Monday.
The attempt to file the legal motion occurred on Friday, July 10th, but the courthouse was unexpectedly closed, despite it being a regular working day, preventing the submission.
"The activist who went to deliver the habeas corpus for Luis Manuel was detained for two days," Ramos reported. She also noted that Cuban courts appear to have ceased operations on Fridays, limiting citizens to submit any legal motions only from Monday to Thursday.
The legal organization Cubalex also tried to send the petition via email to both the Provincial Court and the People's Supreme Court. However, they have documented that official email addresses designated for these procedures are either inactive or blocking messages.
The backdrop of this repression is Otero Alcántara's completed five-year sentence on July 9th. However, the regime has not released him, leaving the artist in a state of forced disappearance.
Two days prior, on July 7th, State Security agents transferred him in handcuffs from the Guanajay prison in Artemisa in a large-scale operation, without informing his family of his whereabouts.
Since then, no one in his circle has seen him or received any official information about his location.
"No one has seen Luis Manuel since he was moved from Guanajay prison on Tuesday, July 7th," Ramos stated.
The only known contact occurred on July 9th, when Otero Alcántara managed to briefly communicate with Ramos from a State Security phone during a supervised speakerphone call. According to the activist, it was evident that the regime has no intention of releasing him until his parole request to leave Cuba is resolved.
In response to the forced disappearance, the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has initiated an Urgent Action registered as AU No. 2357/2026, with a deadline of July 25, 2026, for Cuba to provide accountability.
Ramos sharply criticized the international press for passively waiting for his release instead of demanding explanations directly from the regime.
"The situation in Cuba has become so dire that even submitting a habeas corpus requires diplomatic intervention. This highlights the level of repression and complete disarray in that country," she emphasized.
For this reason, she announced a formal appeal to the foreign diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba to assist in the delivery of the legal motion, as they did in 2022 when they accompanied the artist during his trial.
The statement published on Otero Alcántara's page was unequivocal: "The Ministry of the Interior and the government of Cuba are solely responsible and aware of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's situation. In no other country would it be acceptable for someone to remain kidnapped in a secret location."
Cubalex warned that the inability to file the habeas corpus "constitutes a further violation of the right to access justice and exacerbates Luis Manuel's defenselessness, as his whereabouts continue to be officially undisclosed."
The deadline set by the UN for the Cuban regime to account for Otero Alcántara's whereabouts expires on July 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's Case
Who is Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a Cuban artist and activist known for his opposition to the Cuban regime. He has been recognized internationally as a political prisoner.
Why was a habeas corpus filed on behalf of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara?
The habeas corpus was filed to challenge the legality of Otero Alcántara's continued detention after completing his five-year sentence, as he has not been released by the Cuban regime.
What actions have been taken by international organizations?
The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has activated an Urgent Action, requiring Cuba to provide accountability for Otero Alcántara's disappearance by July 25, 2026.