The U.S. Embassy in Havana marked the six-month imprisonment anniversary of Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina, the founders of the independent Cuban audiovisual platform El 4tico, by calling for their immediate release along with all political prisoners on the island.
In a statement shared on X, the American diplomatic mission condemned the detention as unjust, highlighting that these young men were arrested merely for speaking out against the Marxist ideology and the tyranny of the Cuban regime.
"Today marks six months since the Cuban communist regime unjustly detained Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina, founders of the independent Cuban digital platform #El4tico, for the mere 'crime' of raising their voices against Marxist ideology and tyranny," the Embassy stated.
This statement coincided with an English-language declaration from the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which echoed the same date and terms to describe the situation faced by these creators from Holguín.
The Embassy used this opportunity to draw a political contrast: "For decades, the Cuban regime has supported far-left movements in the United States and worldwide under banners of 'justice,' 'equality,' and 'liberation.' However, we witness the true face of radical leftism in the brutal oppression it inflicts on its own people."
Kamil Zayas and Ernesto Medina were taken into custody on February 6 in Holguín by State Security agents, who raided their home and confiscated a computer, camera, phone, tripod, and router.
El 4tico, established in 2024 in the Mariana Grajales neighborhood of that city, operated from a small room converted into a recording studio, where it published critical analyses of Cuban reality on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Holguín charged them with "propaganda against the constitutional order" and "incitement to commit a crime," charges that could lead to sentences of up to eight or nine years in prison. An initially accepted habeas corpus petition by the Provincial Court of Holguín was subsequently denied, and their provisional detention was extended.
Six months into their detention, the organization Cubalex reported that the Prosecutor's Office has not requested a trial nor set a date for proceedings, which constitutes a violation of due process.
This case is part of an unprecedented repressive escalation. According to data from Prisoners Defenders, Cuba reached an absolute record of 1,260 political prisoners in May, a number that rose to 1,306 by July, including 40 minors.
Organizations such as Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly demanded the release of El 4tico founders since the day of their arrest.
"We stand with #El4tico and all those who oppose communism in all its forms, and we continue to demand their immediate release, along with that of all political prisoners," the Embassy's Thursday statement concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about Political Repression in Cuba
Why were the founders of El 4tico arrested in Cuba?
Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina were detained for allegedly speaking out against the Marxist ideology and the tyranny of the Cuban regime.
What charges have been brought against them?
They have been charged with "propaganda against the constitutional order" and "incitement to commit a crime," which could lead to prison sentences of up to eight or nine years.
What is the current status of their legal proceedings?
As of now, the Prosecutor's Office has not initiated a trial nor set a date, which is a violation of due process according to Cubalex.
How has the international community responded to their arrest?
Various organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called for their immediate release since their arrest.