A member of the Cuban State Security approached Abel Alejandro Andrés Navarro, who is part of the youth collective Fuera de la Caja Cuba, during a graduation ceremony he attended as a guest. The agent issued a threatening warning, advising him to "cease activities on social media," as reported by the group on Facebook.
This agent is the same individual who interrogated Abel on July 2, when State Security detained him and his sister, Amanda Beatriz, for nearly 11 hours at the PNR Unit in the 10 de Octubre municipality, Lawton, Havana, far exceeding the legal detention limit of two hours.
Intimidation in Unexpected Settings
What should have been a relaxing moment for the young activist turned into another instance of pressure, this time in a setting unrelated to any political context.
The collective took this opportunity to clarify that their decreased social media activity is not due to intimidation: "Our recent lack of video uploads is not because we've been frightened. It primarily stems from a serious health issue affecting Mauro's father," a member of the group explained.
Systematic Harassment Campaign
The group also pointed out that the encounter at the graduation is not an isolated incident: "We have received strange calls, intimidating messages... all part of a systematic harassment campaign," they noted in their post.
Despite these challenges, Fuera de la Caja Cuba concluded their statement with a firm declaration: "Living in this country is incredibly difficult, but make no mistake: our resolve is stronger than ever."
Fuera de la Caja Cuba consists of Karel Daniel Hernández Bosques, Amanda Beatriz Andrés Navarro, Abel Alejandro Andrés Navarro, and Mauro Reigos Pérez, all in their twenties and from the Cerro municipality in Havana. Since their inception in January 2026, they have used social media to challenge the Cuban regime and highlight the nation's realities.
Ongoing Repression
Since then, the group has faced relentless repression, including phone disconnections by ETECSA, WhatsApp account hacks, intimidating home visits to their families, and direct threats to their parents.
The operation on July 2 was seen by activists as a deliberate attempt to prevent the group from attending the U.S. mission chief Mike Hammer's celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The U.S. Embassy in Havana publicly condemned this repression, and Hammer criticized the State Security's threats against Cubans participating in diplomatic events on social media.
The young activists recounted the interrogation conditions: agents interpreted the common expression "until when" as incitement to commit crimes, and Abel was held in what his sister described as "a kind of dungeon."
FAQs on Fuera de la Caja Cuba and State Security Threats
Who are the members of Fuera de la Caja Cuba?
The collective consists of Karel Daniel Hernández Bosques, Amanda Beatriz Andrés Navarro, Abel Alejandro Andrés Navarro, and Mauro Reigos Pérez, all young activists from Havana.
What actions has the Cuban State Security taken against Fuera de la Caja Cuba?
The group has faced phone disconnections, WhatsApp account hacks, home visits to their families, and direct threats, all as part of a systematic campaign of harassment.
How has the U.S. responded to the threats against Fuera de la Caja Cuba?
The U.S. Embassy in Havana publicly condemned the repression, and mission chief Mike Hammer criticized the threats against Cubans attending diplomatic events.