The father of Eduardo "Eddy" Ceballos, the mind behind the satirical channel Despingovery Channel, has made his first appearance on social media to share his account of the initial family visit to his son. Eddy is currently held at the maximum-security Combinado del Este Prison in Havana.
It took the family two days to gain permission to see Eddy and provide him with essential hygiene items and basic food supplies. Ultimately, only two family members, his mother Marieta Pérez Alfaro and his wife Daniela, were allowed to enter, leaving the father outside.
“Whether satisfied or not, the goal was for them to see him, and Marieta and Daniela succeeded,” the father said, visibly moved, in a video shared by independent journalist Ernesto Morales on Facebook.
Marieta informed him that upon seeing his mother enter the prison, Eduardo felt "deep sadness" witnessing her in such a situation. However, the family described him as "very strong" with "unwavering dignity."
From inside, Eduardo sent a written message to his father: "Dad, take good care of your health, because I need you strong. Take care of your health, because I need you as strong as you've always been."
These words turned the tables on the roles the father expected: “I thought that in earlier moments of life, I had been an example for him. But now I am convinced that in this moment, he is my great example to follow. With his dignity.”
Eduardo himself depicted the Combinado del Este as "the gateway to hell, a place of much suffering," according to his mother's account after the visit.
The father concluded his message with a promise: “Eduardo Ceballos, my son, is my leader, the leader of my heart. There is much pain, much, but I have a lot of strength for my son.”
He also expressed gratitude for the support received: “We are in a very difficult situation in this country. And we have received support. We know we are not alone,” acknowledging the solidarity from people "around the world."
Arrest Sparks Outrage
Eddy Ceballos, a content creator and comedian, was detained on June 1 in a major police operation in the Diez de Octubre municipality, Havana. He wasn't allowed to enter his home or inform his wife.
The incident was triggered by an Instagram video where Eddy explored an abandoned military site featuring Soviet missiles from the 1960s, radar systems, and Cold War bunkers.
The authorities informed the family that he would be charged with "military property invasion," a charge that legal organization Cubalex claimed does not exist in current Cuban law. Lawyer Alain Santana described the arrest as a "flagrant violation of the principle of legality," noting that the charges were not filed within the legal 24-hour window.
An anonymous source reported by Martí Noticias warned that Ceballos might face a military tribunal for "revealing state security secrets," potentially facing four to ten years in prison.
Last Tuesday, the mother publicly denounced that she had been unable to see her son for a week since his arrest, with the authorities not even allowing the delivery of basic hygiene items.
Systematic Repression Against Digital Creators
This case is part of a systematic pattern of repression against digital creators in Cuba.
Comedian Ulises Toirac reacted to the arrest, noting that "laws in Cuba are a sword of Damocles over the heads of comedians."
Despingovery Channel went viral in 2025 for its parodies styled like nature documentaries, where Ceballos narrated Cuba's potholes, crumbling streets, and ruins as if they were natural wonders worthy of academic study.
Among his most memorable episodes were those dedicated to Havana's potholes—ironically classified as "the suspension killer" or "the Cuatro Caminos lagoon"—and a visit to the ruins of the Instituto Superior de Arte, which he described as "the catacombs of the ISA, a despingological city that enchants."
Since last April, Ceballos had expanded his activities by collaborating with the Cuban independent media outlet CubaNet, producing humorous content about the island's daily reality.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Cuba 160th out of 180 countries in its 2026 Press Freedom Index. In January of this year, there were 69 arbitrary detentions of journalists on the island, a 430% increase compared to the same month in 2025.
Ceballos had anticipated his arrest weeks prior by recording a preventive video with instructions to make it public if he were detained. In it, he stated, "If you are watching this video, it unfortunately means that I have been imprisoned, separated from my home, my family, my daughter, once again showing the true character of the Cuban government."
Key Questions about Eddy Ceballos' Arrest
What led to Eddy Ceballos' arrest?
Eddy Ceballos was arrested following the publication of a video where he explored an abandoned military site with Soviet-era missiles, which authorities claim led to charges of "military property invasion."
What legal actions are being taken against Eddy Ceballos?
Authorities have indicated that Eddy may be tried in a military court for "revealing state security secrets," facing potential imprisonment of four to ten years.
How has the public reacted to Ceballos' arrest?
The arrest has sparked significant outrage, with widespread support for Ceballos expressed globally, and criticism from prominent figures like comedian Ulises Toirac.