Cuban Freemasons Rally in Havana Against Government Intervention

This past Friday, a group of Cuban Freemasons gathered at the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree in Havana to express their support for Sovereign Grand Commander José Ramón Viñas Alonso. They are protesting a perceived attempt by the Ministry of Justice to interfere with the leadership of their institution.

According to the independent outlet Cubanet, the Freemasons involved assert that they only recognize Viñas as the legitimate leader of the Supreme Council, as he was elected in accordance with the organization's internal rules.

Justice Ministry's Controversial Move

The assembly was prompted by the Ministry of Justice delivering an official summons to Viñas Alonso at his home, demanding he step down and hand over his position to an "interim" leader appointed by the authorities, as detailed in the protest report.

Ángel Santiesteban Prats, the Grand Chancellor of the Supreme Council and a writer, criticized the summons, which was issued by Miriam Marta García Meriño, director of the Ministry's Associations department. The summons required Viñas Alonso to appear at the institution's headquarters at 9:30 a.m.

Protestors claim the government intended to enforce a leadership change unilaterally.

Freemasons Stand Firm

In response to this situation, Santiesteban Prats urged Freemasons to assemble at 9:00 a.m. at the Supreme Council on 27 de Noviembre Street (formerly Jovellar), located in Centro Habana, and to wear their distinctive regalia.

According to the Freemason leaders, the individual the authorities aim to install, Lázaro Faustino Cuesta Valdés, was removed from active membership upon turning 80 years old, in February 2025, per the organization's internal regulations. He was later expelled by the Higher Chamber of the Rite.

Santiesteban Prats described the government's actions as a "coup" and a violation of the rules governing the Supreme Councils. He accused the authorities of seeking to impose a leader against the will of the Freemasons.

Historical Context of the Conflict

The Freemason leaders trace the conflict with Cuban authorities back to July 2021, when the Higher Chamber of the Rite sent an open letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel, condemning his "combat order" issued during the July 11 protests.

Since then, according to the report, Viñas Alonso has faced pressure, interrogations, and attempts to remove him from his position. Santiesteban Prats believes this ongoing operation against the Sovereign Grand Commander is part of a broader conflict dating back five years to the 11J protests.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Justice tried to appoint another leader to the Supreme Council, an effort that was largely rejected by members of the Scottish Rite. Later, State Security interrogated Viñas Alonso and opened a criminal case against him for alleged "currency trafficking," linked to informal currency exchange operations intended to support the National Masonic Asylum financially.

Government Allegations and Masonic Rebuttal

Alongside the latest attempt to replace Viñas Alonso, the pro-government site Razones de Cuba published an article accusing him and Santiesteban Prats of leading a supposed "corruption network" within Cuban Freemasonry.

The article alleged fund misappropriations and irregular currency operations, though it did not provide documentary evidence to support these claims. The piece argued Viñas Alonso's downfall was "ethical, not political."

Masonic leaders reject these accusations, asserting that numerous fraternity bodies across Cuba have filed official objections to the government's actions and expressed their support for the current Sovereign Grand Commander.

Santiesteban Prats also called on Supreme Councils in other countries to bring international attention to what he describes as a "blatant violation" of fraternity norms. The Grand Chancellor himself is under government pressure, facing charges and house arrest in June 2026, which he links directly to the government's campaign against Freemasonry.

In his message to members of the organization, both in Cuba and abroad, Santiesteban emphasized that top Masonic authorities should be chosen by the fraternity members, not dictated by external political interests. "Great Masters and Sovereigns will never be selected based on the political whims of the regime. They are chosen to defend the rights of the Freemasons," he declared.

This protest marks another chapter in a long-standing dispute between Cuban Freemasons and the authorities, with the Freemasons in Havana united in their support for Viñas Alonso and opposing the Ministry of Justice's attempts to dictate leadership within the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree.