On Saturday night, 30-year-old Aníbal Yaciel Palau Jacinto was finally released after serving a full five-year sentence for his involvement in the July 11, 2021 protests in Güines, Mayabeque Province.
His mother, Layda Yirkis Jacinto Abad, expressed relief at having her son back home, though she endured over 24 hours of distress, not knowing his whereabouts.
On July 10, just a day before his official release, authorities transferred Palau Jacinto from Melena II prison to Ganusa without notifying his family. The State Security claimed this was for his "protection" from alleged remarks by other inmates at Melena II.
While at Ganusa, Palau Jacinto protested his arbitrary detention by going on a hunger strike, kept in an isolation cell barefoot and in his underwear.
The authorities further delayed his release by citing a supposed "pending case" in the computer system related to a November 2025 incident. However, both his defense lawyer and the Military Prosecution had concluded in February 2026 that this case was closed with no charges against him.
Background of the November 2025 Incident
In November 2025, Palau Jacinto protested the loss of his food during a search. In response, an officer known as "Rudy," head of Internal Order at Melena II, physically assaulted him. This led to his placement in a sealed, unventilated isolation cell, sparking a prolonged hunger strike.
This wasn't the first time the regime subjected him to degrading conditions. In 2023, he spent days barefoot and gave up phone privileges when authorities attempted to make them conditional on him ceasing his protests. In February 2024, he was placed in a punishment cell without any disciplinary offense, as admitted by prison guards in leaked calls.
Health Deterioration and Sentence Details
Arrested in Güines on July 12, 2021, when he was 25, Palau Jacinto initially faced a 13-year sentence for assault, public disorder, and robbery. Ultimately, he was sentenced to five years, which he completed in the Quivicán and Melena II prisons.
Throughout his imprisonment, his health declined significantly. He now suffers from gastritis, vascular migraine headaches, circulatory issues, vision loss, and chronic kidney problems, all exacerbated by hunger strikes and inadequate medical care.
Continuing Repression and Comparison with Other Cases
His release coincides with the fifth anniversary of the July 11 protests, during a period of ongoing repression. According to Prisoners Defenders, as of July 9, 2026, there were a record 1,306 political prisoners in Cuba, with at least 338 incarcerated specifically for participating in those protests.
Palau Jacinto's case starkly contrasts with that of artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, another 11J prisoner whose five-year sentence concluded on July 9, 2026. Unlike Palau Jacinto, Otero Alcántara remains missing under state custody, a situation Amnesty International has labeled as enforced disappearance.
The mass pardon in April 2026, which freed over 2,010 inmates, notably excluded those convicted of "crimes against authority," the category under which 11J protesters were charged. This exclusion forced Palau Jacinto to serve every day of his sentence behind bars.
Key Questions About Aníbal Yaciel Palau Jacinto's Release
Why was Aníbal Yaciel Palau Jacinto arrested in 2021?
He was arrested for his participation in the July 11, 2021 protests in Güines, Mayabeque Province, and charged with assault, public disorder, and robbery.
How did the authorities justify delaying his release?
Authorities cited a supposed "pending case" related to a November 2025 incident, despite it being closed with no charges according to his lawyer and the Military Prosecution.
What health issues did he face during imprisonment?
His health deteriorated due to hunger strikes and lack of medical care, resulting in conditions like gastritis, vascular migraine, circulatory disorders, vision loss, and chronic kidney issues.