From behind bars, Cuban rapper and activist Maykel Castillo Pérez, better known as “El Osorbo,” has made his voice heard through an audio message shared by his fellow activist El Funky on Facebook. In this recording, he refutes claims that his absence from the United States is by choice, instead laying blame squarely on the Cuban regime as the sole barrier to his freedom.
"So that people don't think I'm not there because I don't want to be, no: I'm not there because the regime doesn't want me there. That's the reality, understand what's happening," Osorbo asserts in the brief message directed at his supporters, friends, and family.
The activist expresses in the recording his longing "to breathe fresh air," emphasizing, however, that his fate is not in his own hands: "The only thing I can hope for is for the regime to act and release me from prison. Because if the regime doesn't release me, it's impossible for me to go anywhere, that's not happening."
The audio concludes with a poignant statement that encapsulates the rapper's resilience after more than five years of imprisonment: "We remain in touch, I love you all very much."
This message emerges shortly after Osorbo marked his 43rd birthday on August 20 while incarcerated. On this occasion, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Juan Pablo Segura, publicly demanded his immediate release using the hashtag "Free Maykel".
Osorbo faces a nine-year sentence handed down in June 2022 for charges including assault, contempt, public disorder, and defamation of institutions. These charges are widely seen as punishment for his activism and his role as a co-author of "Patria y Vida," the anthem of the July 11, 2021 protests. Arrested on May 18, 2021, he faces imprisonment until 2030 unless the regime intervenes.
The Regime's Broken Promises
His plight is exacerbated by the regime's initial offer of exile in May 2026, which was later revoked. State Security agents proposed that he either leave the country or remain imprisoned until his sentence's conclusion. Osorbo agreed to exile, but the authorities reneged on their offer. He was not included in any subsequent pardons announced either.
In mid-July, the United States granted him humanitarian parole — similar to that processed for his colleague Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara — yet the Cuban government has taken no action.
Targeted and Isolated
On July 10, Osorbo was abruptly transferred to Guanajay maximum-security prison in Artemisa, relocated from Kilo 8 prison in Pinar del Río. He was placed in an area known as "la Incrementada," the same cell previously occupied by Otero Alcántara until his release on July 7 after completing a five-year sentence.
Human rights group Cubalex has labeled this transfer as deliberate psychological torture by the Cuban political police.
Growing International Support
Osorbo's case has garnered significant international backing. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has deemed his detention arbitrary and politically motivated, calling for Cuba to annul his conviction and highlighting that he was subjected to enforced disappearance shortly after his arrest.
Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience, demanding his immediate and unconditional release. In June 2026, he was awarded the Democracy Award alongside Otero Alcántara and political prisoner Félix Navarro.
FAQs on Maykel Osorbo's Imprisonment and Activism
Why is Maykel Osorbo imprisoned?
Maykel Osorbo is serving a nine-year sentence for charges including assault, contempt, public disorder, and defamation of institutions, which are seen as retribution for his activism and his involvement in the anthem "Patria y Vida" that inspired protests.
What is the international community doing to support Osorbo?
The international community, including organizations like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International, has advocated for Osorbo's release, criticizing his detention as arbitrary and politically driven.