Report Exposes Continued Harassment of Cuban Youth, Even in Exile

Leaving Cuba doesn't always end the pressure faced by young people, independent journalists, artists, and activists from the island, as they have reported over the years.

A report by Ciudadanía y Libertad claims to have documented instances of what it terms "transnational repression" against Cubans in at least five different countries. These actions range from surveillance and threats to smear campaigns, physical attacks, and allegedly induced expulsions.

These cases are detailed in "Youth, Power, and Social Networks in Cuba," a study based on interviews and consultations with young people living both inside and outside the island. The study was presented during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

International Harassment of Cuban Exiles

The document highlights "transnational repression" as one of 12 patterns identified from the collected testimonies. The authors argue that "exile does not end persecution" and claim to have gathered reports of incidents occurring in at least five countries. However, the report does not name the specific states or individuals involved.

One account involves a Cuban journalist legally residing in a South American country. According to the report, this journalist received an expulsion order shortly after a regional summit in Havana attended by the then head of state of that country.

The journalist reported being interrogated by immigration officials using methods he recognized as similar to those employed by Cuban State Security. Despite appealing the order, he was eventually expelled.

Later, the same journalist described being under surveillance in another host country. He was allegedly followed and photographed in public spaces, with these images later appearing online along with warnings indicating his location was known.

Continued Threats and Intimidation in New Destinations

Another testimony comes from a journalist exiled and denied entry into a Central American country reportedly allied with the Cuban government. During his transit through another country, he claimed to have survived an assassination attempt when struck by a motorcycle and reported constant surveillance at his residence.

The report does not provide independent verification regarding the motive or perpetrator of this attack. However, Ciudadanía y Libertad includes it as part of the sequence of events described by the interviewee.

In his journey to find a permanent home, the journalist crossed over ten countries by land, including the treacherous Darién jungle, where he nearly drowned.

Upon settling in a new country, he reported receiving death threats through messages from local phone numbers, along with warnings of physical assault if he continued to speak publicly. He also mentioned attempts to discover his address through third parties.

Simultaneously, there was an increase in reprisals against his mother and brother, who remained in Cuba.

These experiences echo recent public complaints covered by CiberCuba. In July, independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, exiled in Mexico since late 2024, reported receiving messages from fake profiles threatening him with assault and stating they knew his whereabouts. Tan Estrada linked these threats to his reporting on officials in Camagüey.

Challenges Faced by Cuban Exiles in Europe

The report also includes testimonies of Cubans residing in Europe. In these instances, participants described less visible but persistent pressures, such as intimidating messages sent to private numbers, social media harassment, and smear campaigns.

The family of one young interviewee, who left Cuba as a minor, avoided publicizing their departure while passing through a country they considered close to the Cuban regime, fearing possible repercussions.

Ciudadanía y Libertad argues that these episodes form a pattern involving "physical and digital surveillance, coordinated defamation, death threats, diplomatic efforts to induce expulsions and deny entry, and assaults on physical integrity."

The organization stresses that these conclusions are drawn from collected testimonies and do not imply official state involvement has been legally established in each case.

Undermining Exiles Through Discrediting Campaigns

The study pays special attention to efforts aimed at discrediting activists and journalists once they have left Cuba. According to the testimonies, rumors, character attacks, and personal life inquiries aim to isolate exiles from their contacts on the island and undermine the credibility of their reports.

This phenomenon is linked to what the report calls "engineering distrust": a mix of surveillance, infiltration, defamation, and selective reprisals designed to hinder networking among individuals critical of the regime both inside and outside Cuba.

Ciudadanía y Libertad calls on host countries to investigate the threats, surveillance, and assaults reported on their soil and to establish secure mechanisms for potential victims to report incidents. The organization also urges states to avoid cooperative measures that could facilitate such actions and advocates for effective international protection procedures for persecuted youth.

The report further suggests that United Nations special procedures include Cuban cases in their analyses of exile and transnational repression, with specific attention to youth networks connecting activists within Cuba to those abroad.

Ciudadanía y Libertad concludes that leaving Cuba does not automatically eliminate the pressures reported by those who continue practicing journalism, activism, or political expression from abroad. However, the precise scope and responsibility for these incidents need to be assessed individually and with additional evidence.