The U.S. government has raised alarms regarding the situation of Cuban fighter Javier "Spiderman" Martín Gutiérrez, who has been held as a political prisoner since April without formal charges being brought against him by the Cuban regime.
The Western Hemisphere Affairs Office shared an official poster on social media platform X, featuring his image with the caption "Unjustly Detained," emphasizing the complete lack of legal basis for his arrest.
"In April, Javier 'Spiderman' Martín Gutiérrez, a champion of mixed martial arts in the Cuban MMA League, was taken into custody for peacefully speaking out from his home balcony about the unfair conditions faced by the Cuban people under the corrupt communist regime. Months have passed, yet no charges have been filed, underscoring the baseless nature of his detention," stated the U.S. office.
At 34, Martín Gutiérrez is a three-time MMA champion in Cuba. He was arrested on April 24 in the Marianao area of Havana while returning from training.
Plainclothes officers intercepted him, assaulted him, and forcibly took him down without any resistance before transporting him in a black vehicle.
The arrest followed nine days of live broadcasts from his balcony on Havana's 31st Avenue, during which he condemned the prolonged power outages, lack of food and medicine, and the lavish lifestyle of Cuba’s ruling elite.
His statements, such as "I'm not crazy, I'm tired" and "They'll have to kill me to shut me up," went viral on social media. After being detained, he was held at Villa Marista, the State Security headquarters, for nearly a month.
Authorities attempted a psychiatric evaluation to undermine his protests, but the examination found no mental disorders. In a handwritten letter shared by Cubalex, the fighter detailed experiences of beatings and starvation during his detention.
In late May, without prior notice, he was moved to the Combinado del Este, a maximum-security prison in Havana.
His wife, Alisandra Cuza, and his mother, Lourdes Gutiérrez, have reported his suffering from fever and diarrhea, and the scarce availability of drinking water in the prison requires the family to bring him water and food at each visit.
The regime has formally accused him of contempt and public disorder, charges that Spiderman himself refutes.
"I'm not a criminal threat to be in a maximum-security prison, especially with the charges of contempt and public disorder, which are bound to fall apart," he declared in an audio recording from Combinado del Este in late July.
The Playa municipal prosecutor's office also rejected the defense's request for a change in his pre-trial measures, verbally communicating the denial without providing any written documentation.
In June, Mike Hammer, head of the U.S. Embassy mission in Cuba, visited the athlete's wife to express American support for the case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Javier "Spiderman" Martín Gutiérrez's Detention
Why was Javier "Spiderman" Martín Gutiérrez arrested?
He was arrested for peacefully voicing his concerns about the unjust conditions under the Cuban regime from his balcony.
What charges have been brought against him?
The Cuban regime has accused him of contempt and public disorder, charges he denies.
What has been the response from the U.S. government?
The U.S. government has publicly condemned his detention as unjust and expressed support for his case.
Where is Javier Martín Gutiérrez currently being held?
He is currently detained at Combinado del Este, a maximum-security prison in Havana.