Former political prisoner from the July 11th protests, Andy García Lorenzo, has been held for more than 20 hours at the Third Unit of the National Revolutionary Police in Santa Clara. He faces charges of "public disorder" for recording video with his phone in public, according to a complaint by his sister, Roxana García Lorenzo, on Facebook.
"After more than 20 hours of detention, my brother Andy Garcia remains held by state security at the third PNR unit in Santa Clara, accused of 'public disorder'," Roxana stated on Monday.
Detention Sparks Outrage and Family's Denial of Protest Involvement
Roxana firmly denied any involvement in a protest, stating, "NO, my brother was NOT in any protest. He simply took out his phone to record something on the street, though we still don't know what, as we have not had proper communication with him yet."
From the police unit, Andy García managed to make a single phone call to his parents on Sunday, informing them of his location and his decision not to eat during his detention.
"In his call yesterday, he only managed to say where he was and that he would only drink water if it was brought by my parents," Roxana recounted, explaining that this decision is a precaution against possible poisoning by authorities, a threat he faced in the past.
Family and Supporters Stand Firm
Despite being ordered by State Security to leave, García's parents stood outside the Third Unit with friends and relatives, showing their support.
A State Security officer had initially informed the family that García Lorenzo would be held for 24 hours, a period that has since expired without his release.
"They said he would be released in 24 hours. If Andy is not freed in the coming hours, we will continue to denounce this until he is free because, even though part of our family is not in Cuba, remember, he is not alone," warned Roxana.
Ongoing Threats and Previous Arrests
Andy García's arrest on Sunday in the Vigia neighborhood came just two months after State Security threatened him with severe penalties, including 10 to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, citing Article 116 of the Cuban Penal Code on espionage.
The catalyst for these threats appeared to be his sharing of videos on social media showing pot-banging protests against power outages in the Condado neighborhood of Santa Clara, where outages lasted up to 20 hours a day.
Previously, García Lorenzo was arrested during the July 11, 2021 protests in Santa Clara and sentenced to four years for contempt, public disorder, and assault, despite prosecutors seeking a seven-year sentence.
He served his sentence at Guamajal Prison, where he was released in July 2025 after multiple hunger strikes, the longest lasting 16 days in December 2024.
His case fits a documented pattern of harassment against former 11J prisoners: in May 2026, Yoan de la Cruz was detained again in San Antonio de los Baños, and in July, Leonardo Romero Negrín was violently arrested in Central Havana.
Widespread Concern for Political Prisoners
As of April 18, 2026, Justicia 11J counted 775 political prisoners in Cuba, 338 connected to the July 11th protests, while Prisoners Defenders reported 1,306 political and conscientious prisoners as of June 30, 2026.
"Distance will not prevent us from making our voices heard worldwide about what happens to him," Roxana García Lorenzo emphasized.
Understanding the Implications of Andy García's Detention
Why was Andy García Lorenzo detained?
Andy García Lorenzo was detained for allegedly causing "public disorder" by recording video with his phone in public.
What previous threats has Andy García faced?
He has previously been threatened with severe legal penalties, including long prison sentences and the death penalty, under accusations related to espionage.
How has the international community responded to these detentions?
There is widespread international concern regarding the detention of political prisoners in Cuba, with organizations like Justicia 11J and Prisoners Defenders documenting and reporting these cases.