Didie Gutiérrez Ledesma, who resides in the Siboney neighborhood of Playa municipality in Havana, has received a summons from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) after participating in a protest involving banging pots and pans near the block where Mariela Castro, daughter of Raúl Castro and director of CENESEX, lives.
Gutiérrez Ledesma announced the incident on his Facebook profile, stating, "Today I was summoned for an 'interview' because I protested by banging pots on Wednesday at the corner of my home at 15 and 206 Siboney, near Mariela Castro's block. Tomorrow at 9 am, I will report to the PNR station."
The summons, issued by the Ministry of the Interior with an official blue seal, instructs the individual to appear on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. before Lieutenant Urlens Martínez Gonzant at the PNR station located at 198 between 134 and 16.
The term "Interview" is noted in the document, a common euphemism used by the PNR for questioning citizens involved in protests.
The notice further warns that "failure to appear without a justified reason will result in a fine according to current legislation or an accusation of failure to assist," highlighting the coercive nature of the summons.
The protest took place on Wednesday at the corner of 15 and 206 in Siboney, an elite residential area historically home to high-ranking officials of the Cuban regime and their families.
That the demonstration occurred specifically near Mariela Castro's residence carries significant symbolic weight: public discontent reaching the very doors of the ruling elite.
This event is part of a wave of protests shaking Havana, including the Playa municipality itself, spurred by power outages lasting up to 22 hours daily and severe shortages of food and water.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,245 protests in March 2026, marking the highest monthly number since July 11, 2021, and 1,133 in April, representing a 29.5% increase compared to the same month the previous year.
The organization Cubalex documented at least 14 arrests in Havana related to protests and demonstrations from March 6 through May 2026.
Mariela Castro, a member of the National Assembly and a public figure within the regime, has faced criticism from human rights organizations for supporting state repression of protests and discrediting government critics and opposition artists.
In September 2021, Mariela Castro referred to artists opposing the regime as "buffoons," and during the context of the July 11 protests, she backed the state's response.
The summons to Didie Gutiérrez Ledesma exemplifies the intimidation tactics the regime employs against demonstrators: while the document mentions a mere "interview," the threat of fines or criminal charges for non-compliance makes it clear that the goal is to discourage any form of protest.
Understanding Protests and Police Summons in Cuba
What is a cacerolazo and why is it significant in Cuba?
A cacerolazo is a form of protest where people bang pots and pans to make noise. In Cuba, it has become a symbolic act of defiance against the regime, especially in response to issues like power outages and shortages of essential goods.
Why was Didie Gutiérrez Ledesma summoned by the police?
Didie Gutiérrez Ledesma was summoned by the police after participating in a cacerolazo near the home of Mariela Castro. The police used the term "interview" in the summons, which often serves as a pretext for interrogations related to protest activities.
What are the consequences of not complying with a police summons in Cuba?
Failing to comply with a police summons in Cuba can result in fines or criminal charges, such as being accused of failure to assist, according to the warnings stated in the summons document.