Yasmily Machado Duvergel, a Cuban opposition activist, has raised concerns about the authorities demanding an exorbitant bail of 500,000 Cuban pesos to release her 16-year-old son, who has been held since last Saturday in Guanabacoa, Havana, with no explanation for his arrest and no access to him.
The teenager, Michel Joel Valdés Machado, was reportedly stopped on October 10 while heading to a nearby tire repair shop, according to his mother's statement shared by the human rights group Prisoners Defenders on their X account.
Yasmily Machado stated that her son is confined at the Guanabacoa police station number 14, and no officer or investigator has provided information about any alleged crime.
Allegations of Political Repression
"I feel oppressed outside the police station number 14 in Guanabacoa because they are denying me the right to know about my son, to leave his belongings, to understand why they have him detained there. It's because I'm an opponent," she expressed in a video.
As a delegate for the Movimiento Democracia and the Movimiento Opositores por una Nueva República (MONR), she believes her son's detention is politically motivated and signals that the repercussions now affect her family.
Exorbitant Bail Demand
Machado questioned the demand for a half-million peso bail, stating, "The police tell me I need to pay a bail of half a million pesos when in this country, where we are not free and have no freedom of expression, no ordinary Cuban earns that salary."
She also criticized the conditions of her son's detention, describing them as lacking water, electricity, and featuring poor nutrition that she likened to a "stew."
Wider Concerns Over High Bail and Youth Detentions
Independent organizations have criticized the use of high bails in criminal proceedings against activists and demonstrators. In a July report, Cubalex highlighted that article 364 of the Cuban Criminal Procedure Law does not set minimum or maximum bail amounts, granting authorities wide discretion.
According to Cubalex, from 2024 to 2026, bails ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 pesos became common, sums that many families cannot afford.
Prisoners Defenders' most recent report noted that as of October 1, 2026, Cuba had 1,372 political prisoners, including 40 individuals detained as minors or involved in ongoing legal processes from that age.
In Michel Joel's case, no formal charges have been publicly disclosed, and his legal situation and detention conditions remain unverified independently.
As she continues to seek answers, his mother demands that authorities allow her to know about her son's condition and explain why he is still in police custody.
"I demand freedom for my son Michel Joel Valdés Machado. Down with the dictatorship. Freedom for political prisoners. Freedom for the people of Cuba and no more repression," she concluded.
Understanding the Legal and Human Rights Situation in Cuba
What are the reasons behind the high bail amounts in Cuba?
High bail amounts in Cuba are often used in cases involving political activists and demonstrators, with no specific legal limits on the amounts, allowing for discretionary decisions by authorities.
How many political prisoners are currently reported in Cuba?
As of October 1, 2026, there were 1,372 political prisoners reported in Cuba, according to Prisoners Defenders.
What actions are being taken to address youth detentions in Cuba?
Human rights organizations continue to monitor and report on the detentions of minors in Cuba, advocating for transparency and legal reforms to protect vulnerable groups.