Manuel Cuesta Morúa, the head of the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC), was freed on Sunday a few hours following his aggressive arrest at the Zanja police station in Central Havana.
The Cuban dissident answered a summons at the Zapata police station on Saturday—an invitation reportedly set as a trap by State Security, as detailed by Martí Noticias.
Activist María Mercedes Benítez, Cuesta Morúa's partner and a direct witness to the arrest, confirmed his release. She recounted that the operation began on Friday when State Security agents surrounded their home, attempting to enter without a proper warrant.
"They surrounded us and tried to come up to the house, spewing various threats," Benítez accused.
On that same Friday, the 63-year-old dissident released a video stating he would not comply with State Security summons, as he had committed no crime.
However, on Saturday morning, he received a call from someone claiming to be First Lieutenant Lázaro Arocha, a national police criminal investigator, urging him to visit the Zanja station under assurances of a routine procedure. Trusting these assurances, Cuesta Morúa decided to go, accompanied by Benítez, to avoid being arrested alone in public, which often results in his whereabouts being unknown to his loved ones.
Upon arrival, reception personnel claimed no knowledge of the supposed investigator. Moments later, the operation unfolded.
"We arrived and asked about the person who called. They acted as if they didn’t know him. Then six officers appeared and violently handcuffed him," Benítez recounted.
The CTDC's report stated that Cuesta Morúa was forcibly handcuffed and brought to a police vehicle, where force was used during the arrest.
In a statement released Sunday, the CTDC noted that Cuesta Morúa was threatened with death by State Security agents. They confiscated his wallet, business cards, and destroyed his ID card.
Benítez was moved aside to prevent her from interfering. When she attempted to record the arrest on her phone, a State Security agent directly threatened her: "Don’t you dare," and instructed the police, "if she records, detain her."
The authorities did not inform Benítez about where Cuesta Morúa was taken.
Violation of Rights and Ongoing Repression
The CTDC initially reported his forced disappearance, suggesting he might have been taken to Villa Marista or the facility known as 100 y Aldabó, notorious Interior Ministry sites for detaining political prisoners in isolation.
However, subsequent accounts revealed he was not taken to these centers but instead to a remote area in the Artemisa province, where he endured further physical abuse and threats.
According to the organization, agents forced Cuesta Morúa into a vegetated area after crossing a fence, where he was further intimidated, including a direct threat to shoot him in the head if he continued to promote the "pot-banging" protest and encourage citizen demonstrations scheduled for July 11.
The CTDC condemned the operation as part of a broader pattern of surveillance, harassment, and persecution, holding the regime accountable for Cuesta Morúa's physical and psychological well-being.
History of Persecution
Cuesta Morúa's history of repression is extensive. He was detained in November 2021 while attempting to join the Civic March on November 15, arrested in January 2022 in Santiago de las Vegas, and has faced mobility restrictions since 2019.
The CTDC's statement added that after being detained for three to four hours, Cuesta Morúa was abandoned in a location known as Ocho Vías in Artemisa, without money, documents, or communication means. He remained there for five to six hours until a passerby stopped to assist him and facilitate his return to Havana.
The CTDC described these events as an act of violence and degrading treatment against a dissident who has championed peaceful civic struggle for decades. The organization asserted that this case is part of a systematic repression against those advocating for democratic change in Cuba.
Summing up her partner's situation, Benítez said, "He was not a criminal or a murderer, but a peaceful dissident and human rights defender."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Arrest of Manuel Cuesta Morúa
Who is Manuel Cuesta Morúa?
Manuel Cuesta Morúa is the president of the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) and a well-known Cuban dissident advocating for democratic reforms in Cuba.
What led to his recent arrest?
He was arrested after responding to a police summons deemed a trap by State Security, leading to his detention at the Zanja police station in Central Havana.
What happened during and after his arrest?
During the arrest, Cuesta Morúa was subjected to violence, handcuffed, and threatened with death. He was then abandoned in a remote area without means to return home until a passerby assisted him.