The neuropsychologist Ileana de la Guardia, daughter of Colonel Tony de la Guardia who was executed by the Castro regime in 1989, disclosed in an interview with Tania Costa on CiberCuba that it was the intervention of the French president François Mitterrand's wife that helped her uncle, Patricio de la Guardia, escape from a life-threatening punishment cell.
Patricio de la Guardia Font, the twin brother of Tony de la Guardia, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on July 7, 1989, during the infamous Cause Number One, the most controversial trial in Castro's Cuba. This trial concluded with the execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa and three other officers, including Tony de la Guardia.
Efforts to Save Patricio
After securing political asylum in France with her husband, Ileana de la Guardia began rallying influential contacts to protect Patricio. "It was solely because we moved many people here who had connections with the Cuban government—one of them being the wife of President Mitterrand—that Médicos del Mundo and Danielle Mitterrand intervened, leading to Patricio de la Guardia being removed from the punishment cell," she stated.
The fear that Patricio might die in prison, similar to former Interior Minister José Abrantes, was the driving force behind these efforts. "We were very afraid that if we didn't act to protect him, he might die," Ileana confessed.
The Impact of International Pressure
The situation worsened when the regime spread rumors that Patricio de la Guardia had cancer, prompting the family to demand an independent medical visit. According to Ileana, Fidel Castro agreed to this inspection solely due to his personal ties with Danielle Mitterrand. "Fidel Castro accepted because of his good relations with the French president's wife," she added.
Danielle Mitterrand, who founded France Libertés and had been close to Castro since 1974, had previously intervened for Cuban political prisoners. According to Le Monde archives, she succeeded in securing the release of dissident Yndamiro Restano Díaz during a 1995 visit by the Cuban leader to France.
Patricio's Gradual Recovery
After being freed from the punishment cell, Patricio de la Guardia did not immediately experience improved conditions. He remained isolated at Guanajay prison before being transferred to a more unusual situation. "They moved him from Guanajay to an isolated house in the middle of the field, not quite a farm, where he lived alone, guarded by a few officers," Ileana described.
In this environment, Patricio began to slowly recover. International and familial pressure allowed him to receive painting supplies. "They let him have his brushes, paints, and materials for painting, which I believe gave him some strength to keep waiting for the years to pass and eventually be freed," his niece explained.
El País reported in August 1991 that Patricio had been held in a severely isolated prison between Güines and Melena del Sur, with a walled cell and just one hour of outdoor time daily.
Patricio de la Guardia was released early in March 1997, after nearly eight years of actual imprisonment, although his official 30-year sentence was not fully annulled until June 12, 2019. Ileana emphasizes that her uncle received a 20-year sentence for not reporting his brother Tony's involvement in drug-related activities, which were allegedly sanctioned by Cuba's highest authorities.
"Thirty-seven years have passed," Ileana de la Guardia concluded, as her family continues to seek justice for the 1989 executions.
Key Questions About Patricio de la Guardia's Imprisonment
Who intervened to save Patricio de la Guardia?
Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of French President François Mitterrand, intervened to help Patricio de la Guardia.
Why was Patricio de la Guardia sentenced to 30 years?
Patricio de la Guardia was sentenced for not reporting his brother Tony de la Guardia's drug-related activities, which were allegedly authorized by high-ranking Cuban officials.
What role did international pressure play in Patricio's situation?
International pressure, particularly from Médicos del Mundo and Danielle Mitterrand, helped improve Patricio's conditions and eventually led to his early release.