From the Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey, political prisoner Virgilio Mantilla Arango delivered a message of defiance this Saturday, marking the fifth anniversary of the July 11th, 2021 protests. This message was shared by the Cuban Cultural Rights Observatory (ODC-Cuba) as part of the #ArtistsInPrison campaign.
In the video, Mantilla dismisses the charges against him as false and reaffirms his dedication to democracy, regardless of the sentence he may face.
“The accusations are lies, but I can't let that affect me because such charges, like many others before, are meant to drive one into depression, into a state of sadness. It doesn't keep me up at night because what matters most is living my feelings, my emotions, my life,” the activist declared from behind bars.
This message comes at a time when the Camagüey Prosecutor's Office is seeking a 10-year prison sentence for Mantilla for posting a video on Facebook from a cemetery, blaming the Cuban regime for the island's crisis.
“Whether it's 10 years, 15 years, or whatever, I'm going to keep thinking the same way, my dear, because that's my emotion, that's my life. I think this way, and I deserve respect for my nature, for who I am. That's my dignity,” he asserted.
Mantilla, aged 54, is the founder of the Camagüeyan Human Rights Unit and has faced at least eight political arrests over his lifetime as an activist.
His first arrest occurred in December 2020, resulting in a seven-month sentence in the maximum-security Kilo 8 prison. Released on July 4th, 2021, he was re-arrested just 20 days later amid the mass detentions of the July 11th protests and sentenced to three years and three months for "property damage."
After serving the entire sentence under reportedly inhumane conditions—without a mattress, medications, and with food shortages—he was released on August 18, 2025. However, his freedom was short-lived; on October 17, 2025, he was detained again in Florida, Camagüey, accused of “propaganda against the constitutional order.”
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) initially reported his case as a forced disappearance before confirming that he was held in Kilo 7, where he remains in provisional detention without a definitive sentence.
In March 2026, Mantilla reported from prison a lack of medication for his herniated disc and bone and circulatory diseases, along with food shortages and an inability to contact his family.
Despite the looming prospect of a one or two-decade sentence, the activist stands firm: “The love I feel for freedom is much stronger than the fear of death, and I will face those 10, 15, 20 years with dignity, continuing to be who I am. That's my mindset; I love democracy.”
His case is part of a broader pattern of sustained repression: according to ODC-Cuba, at least 14 Cuban artists were imprisoned for political reasons as of July 2026, with twelve detained following the July 11th protests. Meanwhile, Prisoners Defenders estimated in April 2025 that Cuba held at least 1,066 political prisoners in total.
Understanding the Plight of Political Prisoners in Cuba
What are the charges against Virgilio Mantilla?
Virgilio Mantilla faces accusations related to a video he posted on Facebook from a cemetery, criticizing the Cuban regime for the ongoing crisis in the country.
What is the significance of the July 11th protests?
The July 11th protests in 2021 were significant as they marked a rare mass demonstration against the Cuban government, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction and calls for change.
How does ODC-Cuba view the situation of political prisoners?
ODC-Cuba reports a continued pattern of repression, noting that numerous artists and activists remain imprisoned for political reasons, particularly after the July 11th protests.