Duannis León Taboada, a political prisoner sentenced to 14 years for his involvement in the July 11, 2021 protests, has reached out to the Cuban people both on the island and abroad. From the maximum-security Combinado del Este prison in Havana, he shared a recorded phone message with his mother, which was disseminated on social media from Berlin, Germany, this past Friday.
Activist Tania Tasé released the audio, where Duannis emphasized, "Right now, we need to focus on the real enemy of the Cuban people. Since 1959, it has been responsible for the current unaddressed needs of the Cuban population," he declared.
Dire Water Conditions in Prison
One of the most harrowing aspects of Duannis's message highlights the water scarcity in the prison: "We've been without water for three days. We're given just one bottle of water a day. For drinking and bathing. One bottle. And nobody speaks up, nobody says anything, nobody complains, nobody protests."
Duannis attributes this silence not to indifference but to years of systematic indoctrination and repression: "It's not the people's problem; it's that many years have been spent creating a stereotype among the population combined with the emergence of fear and repression."
Judicial System Collapse
The young prisoner also criticized the breakdown of the judicial system within the prison: "There are people here who have been waiting for trial for three or four years. It's madness; everything is completely wrong here, mom. Everything is wrong."
Critique of the U.S. Embargo Narrative
Addressing the official claim that the U.S. embargo is the root of the country's issues, Duannis was straightforward: "A government that so far hasn't been able to find a solution to reach an agreement with the U.S. government to eliminate that blockade. They are incapable because the blockade still exists." He pointed out that a truly competent government would have found negotiation methods to resolve it.
Duannis also criticized the Cuban government for its contradictions: it publicly admits that the embargo aims to generate social discontent, but when that discontent erupts into protests, it responds with 14, 15, and 20-year sentences in maximum security prisons. "You are the real unjust ones, you are the ones who should care for this people, you are the ones who should grant rights to this people," he stated.
Physical Abuse and Psychological Threats
Duannis recounted the physical abuse he has endured inside Combinado del Este: "I've been thrown into a sealed cell, [...] covered in blood and handcuffed. And they've sprayed me in the face." He also denounced that prison officials have threatened his mother's life as a means of psychological pressure.
Despite everything, the young man declared himself free in spirit: "I thank the Cuban government for giving me fourteen years in prison. I thank them, because thanks to what I've lived and all the repression I've experienced, it gave me the chance to be a free Cuban."
Duannis's case is one of the most documented among the July 11 prisoners. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights granted him precautionary measures in January 2026 due to the risk to his life and integrity. In February, he was sent to a punishment cell after being beaten by an officer, and in April, he was again isolated for writing slogans like "freedom" and "justice" inside the prison.
His message arrives at a time of severe crisis for Cuban political prisoners: as of July 9, 2026, Prisoners Defenders documented 1,306 political prisoners in Cuba — the highest number recorded by the organization — with over 300 directly linked to the July 11 protests. The April 2026 pardon freed 2,010 inmates but specifically excluded those convicted of "crimes against authority," the category under which most protesters, including Duannis, were prosecuted.
"The Cuban population urgently needs to be free, you understand me, mom," concluded the young man from his cell in Combinado del Este.
FAQs on Cuban Political Prisoners and Human Rights
What is the current situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
As of July 9, 2026, there are 1,306 political prisoners in Cuba, with more than 300 linked to the July 11 protests. Despite a recent pardon, those convicted of crimes against authority remain imprisoned.
How is the water condition in Cuban prisons?
Prisoners like Duannis León Taboada report severe water shortages, with inmates receiving only one bottle of water per day for drinking and bathing, leading to unsanitary conditions.
What are the allegations of abuse in Combinado del Este?
Prisoners have reported physical abuse, including beatings and being sprayed in the face, as well as psychological threats, such as threats to family members' safety.