Human Rights Group Exposes Deaths of Two Inmates in Guantánamo Prison

The Cuban human rights organization Cubalex has brought to light the deaths of two inmates under state custody at the Provincial Prison of Guantánamo in June 2026. The organization claims these incidents are part of a broader pattern of institutional neglect and violence within Cuban prisons.

According to Cubalex's alert, the first case involves Lensy Vidal Poll, known as "Pancho," who passed away on June 24 due to malnutrition. Authorities reportedly moved him to an area for a strengthened diet given his fragile health condition just days before his death. However, fellow inmates only learned of his passing three days later, and the exact circumstances remain unclear.

The second incident involves an inmate identified only as Yuniel, whose last name is unknown. He committed suicide on June 4 amid violence linked to debts among prisoners. Following his death, prison authorities transferred other inmates involved in the incident to different facilities.

Negligence and Institutional Violence

Cubalex places these deaths within a broader, systematically documented pattern of negligence and institutional violence. "These deaths are part of a pattern of neglect and institutional violence in Cuban prisons," the organization stated in their release.

The Provincial Prison of Guantánamo has a troubling history of documented deaths. In May 2026, Cubalex reported the deaths of two inmates: Ermis Bombu Moreira, 52, who died of starvation following a metabolic coma, and Alfredo Poll Imber, 50, who succumbed to tuberculosis while serving an 11-year sentence.

Historical Context of Prison Deaths

In October 2025, Serguey Marrero Faure also died in the same facility due to untreated thrombosis. Another cited case is Leudis Ramos Mejías, 31, who committed suicide in Boniato prison, Santiago de Cuba, in 2025. Suffering from depression over a debt and fearing reprisals, he requested a transfer and protection, but authorities ignored his pleas.

Alarming Rise in Custodial Deaths

Alarmingly, Cubalex's monitoring shows a sharp increase in prison deaths in Cuba. The organization documented 39 deaths in 2025, and by the time of this alert, they had already recorded 30 in 2026 alone.

Cubalex warns that the inhumane conditions within prisons — malnutrition, inmate violence, lack of medical and psychological care, and absence of protective measures — significantly heighten the risk to inmates' lives. They urge the Cuban state to conduct independent, impartial, and effective investigations into each death.

"The Cuban state is accountable for safeguarding the life, integrity, and dignity of all individuals under its custody. It must prevent hazardous situations, ensure adequate medical and psychological care, protect against violence and other threats, and investigate all prison deaths independently, impartially, and effectively," Cubalex concluded in their statement.