Angela Lemus, a Cuban actress and social media influencer, recently shared a video on Instagram that starkly illustrates the oppressive tactics of Cuba's State Security. The video depicts threats to family members, denial of constitutional rights, and a clear ultimatum: leave the country or face imprisonment.
The video, lasting one minute and fourteen seconds, is described by Lemus as "the reality for many in Cuba." It features what appears to be the transcript of an interrogation of a young woman by regime agents after she expressed her views on social media.
In the recording, an officer tells the young woman, "Social media has given you a dangerous courage." She replies, "The Constitution says there is freedom of expression." The officer retorts, "Here, freedoms aren't written. We grant them when we see fit, to whom we choose. You're not on that list."
The intimidation extends beyond the young woman being questioned. The officer also targets her mother: "She goes out every day. Same routes, same people. Accidents happen. Like they have for many others."
When the young woman argues that they can't do this and that she has rights, the agent interrupts dismissively: "Rights? Is that what you think you have?"
The video's impact was immediate, sparking reactions in the comments. Anna Bensi, a 21-year-old Cuban activist facing similar repression from State Security, commented, "Who filmed my interrogation?"
Bensi's question is more than rhetorical. Since March 2026, she has been summoned to numerous interrogations at a police station in Alamar, Havana, facing charges under Article 393 of the Penal Code, which carries penalties of two to five years in prison, alongside her mother.
On April 13, counterintelligence agents attempted to recruit Bensi by offering to boost her music career if she stopped criticizing the regime. She declined the offer, stating, "I leave my life in God's hands."
Days earlier, on April 10, Bensi's sister, a U.S. citizen, was threatened before flying to Miami. Agents warned her that "Trump will invade Cuba and the first missile will hit your home," and they confiscated her passport.
The pattern depicted in Lemus's video is neither new nor isolated. The group "Out of the Box Cuba" had their phones disabled for supporting the activist.
Denis Hernández Ramírez, a protester from the July 11 demonstrations who was released from prison in January 2025, was re-arrested in March for his social media posts.
The legal framework supporting this repression includes Decree 370, Decree Law 35, and the Social Communication Law 162/2023. These regulations criminalize critical expression online, despite the Cuban Constitution's formal recognition of freedom of expression in Article 54.
As of the end of 2025, according to the Cultural Rights Observatory, 17 young artists remain imprisoned, and ten are under restrictive measures for criticizing the regime.
Understanding State Repression in Cuba
What tactics does the Cuban regime use to silence dissent?
The Cuban regime employs tactics such as threats to family members, denial of constitutional rights, and ultimatums like forcing individuals to leave the country or face imprisonment.
How does Cuban law support repression?
Laws like Decree 370, Decree Law 35, and the Social Communication Law 162/2023 criminalize critical expression online, enabling the regime to suppress dissent despite constitutional guarantees of free speech.
Who is Angela Lemus?
Angela Lemus is a Cuban actress and influencer who highlighted the state's oppressive tactics by sharing a video on social media, drawing attention to the regime's intimidation practices.