Spanish singer Melendi has added his voice to the growing chorus demanding the release of the young individuals associated with the independent digital platform, El4tico.
In an Instagram story shared with his over 2 million followers, Melendi used the hashtag #freeel4tico against a black background.
Additionally, he featured his song “Pan para Yolanda,” a duet with Aymée Nuviola, which calls for a free Cuba.
Content creators Ernesto Ricardo Medina and Kamil Zayas Pérez, tied to El4tico, were apprehended on February 6 during a pre-dawn raid in Holguín. On February 9, the Provincial Popular Court accepted a habeas corpus petition on their behalf, a rare move in the Cuban judicial system.
The hearing on February 12 was held amid heavy police presence, including uniformed officers and plainclothes State Security agents. Reports also indicated power and internet outages in the vicinity.
This case has captured attention both domestically and internationally, prompting social media users to demand judicial transparency and respect for legal rights for the detained.
In a video released on the official Holguín Provincial Prosecutor's Office Facebook page, an official stated that the office "oversees the criminal process initiated to investigate charges of propaganda against the constitutional order and incitement to commit crimes" following publications from El4tico.
According to the official, El4tico disseminated materials that "urge the people, members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Ministry of the Interior to alter the constitutional order of the Republic of Cuba," as well as "defame the actions of the country's political and social institutions."
Understanding the El4tico Case
Who are the individuals detained from El4tico?
Ernesto Ricardo Medina and Kamil Zayas Pérez are the young content creators affiliated with the independent digital platform El4tico who were detained.
What charges are being investigated by the Holguín Provincial Prosecutor's Office?
The office is investigating charges related to propaganda against the constitutional order and incitement to commit crimes based on materials published by El4tico.
What has been the public's reaction to the detentions?
The public, both within Cuba and internationally, has shown support for the detainees, demanding transparency and respect for their legal rights through social media campaigns.