Recently arriving in Miami following a five-year imprisonment in Cuba, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara made a definitive statement this Sunday about the necessary steps to end political incarceration on the island: Cuba's liberation.
The artist and co-founder of the San Isidro Movement addressed journalists and activists who welcomed him in Miami. He asserted that in a free Cuba, political imprisonment would cease to exist immediately, and those jailed would be released without conditions, negotiations, or forced exile.
"For political prisoners, the only solution is freedom. Freedom for Cuba, which means the next day everyone is released, and there are, of course, no more political prisoners," the artist summarized in statements shared on Facebook by José Batista Falcón, an activist from the Cuban Patriotic Union (UNPACU).
Drawing from his personal experience, Otero Alcántara condemned the oppressive nature of the Cuban regime, stating, "I spent five years, not a day more, not a day less. And I was a well-known political prisoner. This shows that the dictatorship remains a dictatorship."
Rather than portraying himself as a victim, he acknowledged the personal cost of resisting and expressing himself freely, downplaying his situation compared to others: "There are people who have spent 20 years in prison... There are those who have suffered more than I have."
The regime kept him in an undisclosed location for over ten days after his sentence officially ended on July 9, 2026, when State Security agents removed him from Guanajay maximum-security prison without notifying his family or lawyers.
His release was contingent upon permanent exile, a typical tactic used by the regime to eliminate high-profile dissidents.
The individual humanitarian parole was granted by U.S. authorities on Friday, July 17, the sole option for Cubans after the Trump administration canceled collective parole in March 2025.
Otero Alcántara arrived in Miami on Saturday, July 18, on American Airlines flight AA2706 from Havana, around 5:10 p.m. His first stop was at the Ermita de la Caridad del Cobre, where he left an offering and set the tone for his future actions: "Every minute wasted is another minute of dictatorship."
The backdrop of his statements is dire. As of July 9, 2026, Prisoners Defenders reports that Cuba is experiencing a historic high of 1,306 political prisoners, including 40 minors.
Among the most notable cases still imprisoned is Maykel Osorbo, sentenced to nine years and held at Kilo 8 maximum-security prison in Pinar del Río, who has refused the regime's offer to emigrate in exchange for his release.
A mass pardon of 2,010 prisoners announced by the regime in April 2026 explicitly excluded those convicted of "crimes against authority"—the charge used to criminalize the July 11 protesters—and human rights organizations verified the release of only two political prisoners in that process.
This Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an official statement welcoming Otero Alcántara, denouncing the Cuban regime as "illegitimate," and demanding the immediate release of over 700 political prisoners.
Otero Alcántara concluded his message with a phrase that has become a symbol of unity among Cubans inside and outside the island: "We are connected. Thank you."
Insights on Cuba's Political Prisoner Crisis
What does Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara propose as the solution for political prisoners in Cuba?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara proposes the liberation of Cuba as the only solution to free all political prisoners, suggesting that in a free Cuba, political imprisonment would automatically end.
What conditions were placed on Otero Alcántara's release from prison in Cuba?
Otero Alcántara's release was conditioned on his permanent exile, a common practice by the Cuban regime for dealing with prominent dissidents.
How does the current political prisoner situation in Cuba compare historically?
As of July 2026, Cuba is experiencing a historical peak with 1,306 political prisoners, marking a significant crisis in terms of human rights.