Marieta Pérez Alfaro, the mother of Cuban comedian Eddy Ceballos—known online as "Despingovery"—made a public appeal on Wednesday, demanding her son's release one month after his arrest.
"I am a mother speaking out for my son. Despite my pain and fatigue, I will continue to speak on his behalf," Pérez Alfaro stated in a video shared on social media, where she also outlined the harassment timeline leading up to his detention.
Ceballos was taken into custody on June 1, 2026, in the Diez de Octubre municipality of Havana, following a formal accusation by a military unit chief the day before.
The arrest was triggered by a video he posted on May 24 on his Despingovery Channel, where he explored an abandoned military site featuring Soviet-era missiles, radars, and bunkers from the Cold War, all in a state of disrepair.
Systematic Intimidation Leading to Arrest
According to his mother, the detention was not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of systematic intimidation. Ceballos faced three prior summonses: the first, with an incorrect address, was dismissed; the second, in April, led him to Villa Marista, where agents warned him to "stop that content or they could fabricate a case," as they put it; the third accused him of attempting to scam a tourist with a photo that wasn't even his, which also didn't proceed.
Initial charges of "military property invasion" were dropped because such a charge does not exist in the Cuban Penal Code, as noted by the legal organization Cubalex and lawyer Alain Santana.
Legal Reframing and Harsh Accusations
The Military Prosecutor's Office then reframed the case under Article 116, paragraph 3: "disclosure of secrets concerning State Security," a crime carrying penalties of 10 to 30 years, life imprisonment, or death.
Pérez Alfaro questioned the foundation of the accusation: "This military area has been deactivated since 2025. It has no perimeter boundaries, no signs. Children routinely play there." She also pointed out that on May 25 and 26—days after her son's video—others posted photos of the same site's tunnels on Instagram without being summoned by authorities.
Conditions and Alleged Abuse in Detention
On June 5, Ceballos was moved to the Combinado del Este High-Security Penitentiary. On June 17, his mother reported he was physically assaulted while detained, describing the prison as "the doorstep to hell."
Christian, the cameraman who worked with Ceballos that day, was also detained, and authorities seized the clothes he wore during filming as new evidence against him.
Broader Pattern of Intimidation
The mother also exposed a broader pattern of intimidation extending beyond her son's case.
Content creator Andy García Lorenzo was summoned and forced to sign a warning letter about the dangers of filming military sites; during that meeting, authorities explicitly mentioned Ceballos' case and the potential 30-year sentence.
Ceballos' colleagues at the Centro Promotor del Humor—where he's been employed since 2019—have remained publicly silent. His mother explained the reason: "They were warned to refrain from commenting on social media."
"In all these actions, I see a pattern of intimidation and harassment," Pérez Alfaro concluded in her statement. As of Wednesday evening, the Prosecutor's Office had not completed its investigation or brought the case before a court.
FAQs on Eddy Ceballos' Detention and Legal Situation
What led to Eddy Ceballos' arrest?
Eddy Ceballos was arrested following a video he published exploring an abandoned military site. This led to a formal accusation by a military unit chief, resulting in his detention on June 1, 2026.
What are the charges against Eddy Ceballos?
Initially charged with "military property invasion," the charges were reframed under "disclosure of secrets concerning State Security," which carries severe penalties.
How has the community responded to Ceballos' arrest?
Ceballos' colleagues have remained silent due to warnings from authorities, and his mother has publicly called for his release, highlighting a pattern of intimidation.