Former political prisoner Andy García Lorenzo was released on Monday after being held for more than 20 hours at the Third Unit of the Revolutionary National Police in Santa Clara. This information was confirmed by his mother to CubaNet and shared by his sister, Roxana García Lorenzo, on social media.
Roxana celebrated the news with a heartfelt message: "They just released my brother Andy Garcia. In the coming minutes, he will be able to talk to family and friends. Thank you so much to everyone who took a moment to inquire about him, to share information and stay updated, and to those who waited outside to support him: THANK YOU for your bravery."
García Lorenzo was detained on Sunday while he was walking and filming street activities with his phone in Santa Clara. His family emphasized that he was not participating in any protest at the time of his arrest; he was merely documenting a spontaneous demonstration by residents frustrated by power outages affecting the area.
Authorities accused him of "public disorder" and informed the family he would be held for 24 hours. However, his detention exceeded this period before his eventual release.
The immediate context of the arrest is the severe electricity crisis plaguing Villa Clara, where power outages lasted over 20 hours daily during August 2026, leading to public discontent and spontaneous protests in several neighborhoods.
While García Lorenzo was in custody, family and friends gathered outside the police station demanding his release. During this vigil, opposition figure Guillermo "Coco" Fariñas, who had come to show solidarity with the activist and his family, was also detained. Fariñas, awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2010, was released on the same day, according to García Lorenzo's family.
Andy García Lorenzo is among the most prominent political prisoners from July 11, 2021, having been arrested during the historic anti-government protests in Santa Clara. Despite the prosecution seeking a seven-year sentence, he was sentenced to four years for contempt, public disorder, and assault. He served his entire sentence at Guamajal prison and was freed on July 7, 2025.
Far from abandoning activism, in June 2026, he released footage of pot-banging protests in Santa Clara's Condado neighborhood against the power outages, which increased pressure from State Security on him. This recent detention is the first publicly reported incident since his release from prison last year.
At the time of his release, the family was unaware of the exact terms of his freedom or whether any ongoing legal proceedings were pending against him.
Understanding the Detention and Release of Andy García Lorenzo
Why was Andy García Lorenzo detained in Santa Clara?
García Lorenzo was detained for allegedly causing public disorder while he was filming spontaneous protests against power outages in Santa Clara.
How long was Andy García Lorenzo held by the police?
He was held for more than 20 hours despite initial claims that he would be detained for 24 hours.
What was the reaction of García Lorenzo's family and supporters?
Family members and supporters gathered outside the police station to demand his release, with his sister expressing gratitude on social media for the support.