Eddy Ceballos Expresses Love and Gratitude to His Mother After 165 Days in Cuban Detention

Eddy Ceballos, known for creating the satirical channel Despingovery Channel, has now spent 165 days in detention without trial in Cuba. His mother, Marieta Pérez Alfaro, has publicly shared a heartfelt handwritten letter from her son, penned from his prison cell.

In his letter, Ceballos affectionately refers to his mother as "my lioness," crediting her strength as the key support that prevents him from crumbling under the weight of what he describes as "an enemy larger than myself."

"My mom, amidst this sea of hardships, I strive each day to hold onto the little positivity I can find. The greatest fuel for my willpower is seeing you as solid as a rock; knowing that you fight for me like a LIONESS compels me daily to rise to the occasion," Ceballos wrote from behind bars.

The letter, addressed to "the architect of who I am," poignantly reveals Ceballos's emotional state: "Whenever I feel on the brink of breaking, your energy, support, and good wishes inject courage into me to battle against an adversary greater than myself."

He also confesses the profound impact of seeing his mother as his main public defender: "You cannot imagine the immense happiness I feel knowing that in my darkest times, you are most proud of me."

Upon sharing the letter, Marieta Pérez Alfaro commented, "My son, Eddy Ceballos, has been unjustly imprisoned for 165 days, awaiting trial. This letter he wrote moves me every time I read it and reassures me that he knows he is not alone. Today, he guides my steps, and I am proud of the man he has become."

She concluded her message with a sentiment summarizing five and a half months of struggle: "I don't know where we will end up, but we will go together."

Ceballos was arrested on June 1, 2026, in the Diez de Octubre municipality of Havana after posting an Instagram video exploring an abandoned military site featuring Soviet-era missiles, radars, and Cold War bunkers.

Initially, authorities informed his family that he would face charges for "trespassing on military property," a charge that the organization Cubalex denounced as nonexistent in the current Cuban Penal Code.

The charge was later changed to "revealing state security secrets" under Article 116 of the Penal Code, with potential penalties ranging from 10 to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, placing the case under the jurisdiction of a Military Tribunal.

Throughout these months, the family has lodged numerous complaints: physical abuse during detention, denial of visits, rejection of a motion for a change in precautionary measures by the Prosecutor's Office, and dismissal of a complaint appeal.

On September 30, the Military Tribunal upheld the preventive detention, with the family claiming the resolution misrepresented Ceballos's statements, falsely attributing admissions to him.

In August, Ceballos had already sent a letter from prison refuting the accusations, asserting, "I am an artist, not a spy."

Despingovery Channel gained viral popularity in April 2025 for its nature documentary-style parodies, where Ceballos humorously narrated the potholes, crumbling streets, and ruins of Cuba.

This case fits a broader pattern of increasing repression against digital content creators on the island: Cuba ranks 160th out of 180 in the 2026 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, marking it as the second worst in the Americas.

Ceballos concludes his letter with a promise to his mother from his cell: "The aim of my life is to leave a legacy for society, and within that legacy lies your own. Every victory of mine will be yours because I am who I am thanks to you. I LOVE YOU, my Lioness."