José Ramón Solano Randiche, a Cuban political prisoner, has concluded his hunger strike at the Provincial Prison of Holguín. This decision came on Friday after prison authorities agreed to reduce his disciplinary sentence from six months to three months under the most severe regime, according to reports by Martí Noticias.
This conflict arose on July 14 when the prison administration abruptly canceled the regular leave passes for all inmates in Solano Randiche's unit. This sudden move prevented him from being with his family on his young son's birthday.
Upon protesting his rights, military officials retaliated with an even harsher punishment: revoking his correctional status and imposing a six-month disciplinary penalty under maximum severity.
In protest of this harsh treatment, Solano Randiche began a voluntary fast that lasted several weeks, severely impacting his health.
The organization Cubalex reported on August 5 that after 23 days of fasting, Solano Randiche was confined to an isolation cell without a mattress, which was only provided on August 1 following family complaints. His health was severely compromised, with notable weakness and difficulty speaking, compounded by pre-existing asthma and allergies.
His wife, Liuba María Gallo Plácido, confirmed to Martí Noticias the severe physical toll: Solano Randiche lost 44 pounds during the protest, dropping from 178 to 132 pounds.
Following the agreement that ended the strike, Solano Randiche was moved to the "Cuba Sí" prison, where he will complete the corrective measure before returning to his regular regime.
"Initially, they wanted to revoke it for six months, but it was reduced to three. After those three months, he will return to the previous regime, and once there, he will receive his rightful leave passes," Gallo Plácido explained.
The disciplinary period is calculated retroactively from July 16, leaving the prisoner with approximately two months of punishment remaining.
Currently, he is recovering in the medical unit of the "Cuba Sí" prison.
During the hunger strike, State Security agents utilized a family visit to threaten Gallo Plácido with reprisals against her husband for making his plight public through Martí Noticias, dismissing social media posts but focusing their warnings on the media coverage.
Solano Randiche is serving a 13-year sentence for sedition due to his involvement in the July 11, 2021, protests in Holguín. The sentence was the result of several reviews: initially facing 30 years, it was reduced to 18 and finally to 13 after an appeal.
His situation is not unique in the province. Another political prisoner from Holguín, Roilán Álvarez Rensoler, conducted a hunger strike lasting more than 50 days between January and March 2026, resulting in cardiac arrest and hospitalization. In July, he was reported to have started another hunger strike after being returned to the provincial prison.
According to the organization Prisoners Defenders, Cuba held over 1,200 political prisoners in 2026, including hundreds of 11J protesters whose sentences have been deemed 34 times harsher by human rights organizations compared to those given to the Moncada attackers in 1953.
Key Questions About Cuban Political Prisoners
What led to José Ramón Solano Randiche's hunger strike?
The hunger strike was initiated as a protest against the imposition of a six-month disciplinary sentence under the most severe prison regime, following the cancellation of regular leave passes which prevented Solano Randiche from spending time with his family.
How did the authorities respond to Solano Randiche's hunger strike?
Authorities agreed to reduce his disciplinary sentence from six months to three months after several weeks of his hunger strike, which severely impacted his health.
What is Solano Randiche's current situation?
Solano Randiche is currently recovering in the medical unit of the "Cuba Sí" prison, where he will complete his reduced disciplinary sentence before returning to his regular prison regime.
How does the situation of political prisoners in Cuba compare to the past?
In 2026, Cuba reportedly held over 1,200 political prisoners, with many 11J protesters receiving sentences considered 34 times harsher than those given to the Moncada attackers in 1953, according to human rights organizations.