The Cuban political prisoner, Yaser Fernando Rodríguez González, aged 42, has been on a hunger strike for a week and is currently confined in a punitive cell at the Augusto César Sandino Penitentiary in Pinar del Río. His life is in immediate danger, according to an urgent alert issued on Thursday by Brito News.
The report highlights that Rodríguez González is suffering from severe hepatitis and is being denied medical care, necessary medications, and proper nutrition, critically worsening his condition. Brito News demands "an immediate proof of life, urgent medical attention, access to required medications, and an end to torture, mistreatment, and any other violations of his fundamental rights."
Images released by Brito News show the alarming physical decline of Rodríguez González, depicting a stark transformation from his appearance at the time of his 2020 arrest to now—his head is shaved, his face is gaunt, and he has experienced significant weight and tooth loss.
Conditions and Protests in Prison
Rodríguez González began his hunger strike on July 27 as a protest against alleged abuses under the orders of First Lieutenant Luis Enrique Polueda Camejo, based on Brito News's initial report.
The conditions described from the prison are dire. In May 2026, Rodríguez González informed Martí Noticias about the inadequate food situation, stating, "They give us 10 to 20 grams of rice. In the morning, breakfast is a small piece of bread the size of a dime and a bit of sugarless beverage."
He further described the main meals as "mincemeat that's basically water, pasta with worms, and a broth made with root vegetable water," and reported an illness outbreak among more than 200 inmates at the prison.
History of Persecution and Detention
Human rights organizations have documented Rodríguez González's medical history, noting malnutrition, circulatory problems, gallstones, and hepatitis, as per his profile on Prisoners Defenders.
Rodríguez González was arrested on November 25, 2020, in the Los Sitios neighborhood of Havana after posting a video on Facebook urging Cubans to unite against the dictatorship and to display opposition posters at home. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for "acts against state security" and "incitement to rebellion."
Since his arrest, he has been transferred through at least three prisons and has a documented history of retaliations. In August 2021, he was placed in solitary confinement at the Combinado del Este and stripped of all his belongings. In March 2022, at Valle Grande prison, the head of internal order, Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, assaulted him and threatened to "make him disappear" for speaking to independent media.
Escalating Repression in Cuba
This case occurs within a broader context of increasing repression. Prisoners Defenders recorded a peak of 1,306 political prisoners in Cuba by the end of June 2026, with 264 new politically motivated detentions between July 2025 and June 2026, and a total of 2,112 individuals incarcerated since July 11, 2021. The organization also reports that the daily caloric intake in the Cuban prison system ranges from 250 to 353 calories, far below the 2,000-2,500 needed by an adult.
Brito News concludes its alert with a stark warning: "Silence also has consequences. The life of Yaser Fernando Rodríguez González must be protected."
Understanding the Plight of Cuban Political Prisoners
What is the current condition of Yaser Fernando Rodríguez González?
Yaser Fernando Rodríguez González is in critical condition due to a hunger strike, severe hepatitis, and the lack of medical care in prison.
Why was Yaser Fernando Rodríguez González imprisoned?
He was sentenced to seven years in prison for "acts against state security" and "incitement to rebellion" after urging Cubans to oppose the dictatorship in a Facebook video.
What are the conditions like in Cuban prisons?
Cuban prisons are reported to have dire conditions, including inadequate food, poor hygiene, and insufficient medical care, with daily caloric intake far below the necessary amount for adults.