Yosvany Rosell García Caso, a political prisoner, has been relocated to intermediate care after more than 30 days on a hunger strike without receiving medical attention.
"The doctor informed me that they decided to transfer him to intermediate care due to the extended period without food, so he could quickly be moved to intensive care if necessary," his wife, Mailín Sánchez, told Martí Noticias on Sunday.
Rosell García Caso had been admitted to the Penalty Ward of the Holguín Clinical Surgical Hospital.
"He remains conscious and refuses both medication and touch. He is steadfast in his hunger strike. The doctor mentioned that unless he consents, they won't administer intravenous nutrition," Sánchez explained.
According to Sánchez, "When he becomes unconscious, the family must authorize any treatment."
"I am willing to sign because I care about my husband's life. We are pleading with him to allow medical care, like checking his blood pressure, even if he continues the strike. But he refuses any assistance," she recounted.
A guard at the hospital's Penalty Ward confirmed to Martí Noticias that the striker had been moved to intermediate care.
On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Cuba voiced concern over Rosell García Caso's deteriorating health, as he marked 32 days on a hunger strike in protest of his 15-year prison sentence imposed by the Cuban regime for participating in the July 11, 2021, protests.
"Yosvany Rosell García Caso remains on a hunger strike following the unjust 15-year sentence by the Cuban regime for his role in the July 11 protests. The inhumane conditions at El Yayal prison, combined with his fragile health, are deeply concerning. There is no justification for the mistreatment he endures. He should be released and receive proper medical care," the diplomatic mission posted on its official X account (formerly Twitter).
García Caso, a blacksmith and father of three, was moved to the Holguín Clinical Surgical Hospital on November 19 after 29 days of total fasting.
Initially sentenced to 30 years for sedition, later reduced to 15 after an appeal, García Caso is viewed by activists and human rights organizations as the political prisoner in the worst health condition among those jailed for the July 11 protests.
Since his arrest in 2021, he has endured beatings, solitary confinement, and isolation.
His record includes multiple hunger strikes and sit-ins, during one of which in 2022 he even refused essential medication for his chronic heart condition.
Activists from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) and the Christian Liberation Movement have warned that his life "is at risk every passing minute" and hold the Cuban government directly accountable for any fatal outcome.
Questions about Yosvany Rosell García Caso's Condition and Treatment
Why was Yosvany Rosell García Caso sentenced to 15 years in prison?
Yosvany Rosell García Caso was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his participation in the July 11, 2021, protests against the Cuban government.
What actions have been taken by human rights organizations regarding his situation?
Human rights organizations, including the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) and the Christian Liberation Movement, have expressed grave concerns about his health and hold the Cuban government accountable for any adverse outcomes.
What has the U.S. Embassy in Cuba said about García Caso's health?
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba has expressed deep concern regarding García Caso's deteriorating health and the inhumane conditions he faces in prison, calling for his release and appropriate medical treatment.