Reports indicate that the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Holguín is seeking an eight-year prison term for Ernesto Ricardo Medina and a ten-year sentence for Kamil Zayas Pérez, the two founders of the independent audiovisual project El 4tico. These provisional conclusions were accessed by Martí Noticias.
The First Criminal Chamber of the Provincial Court has received this request and has ordered the initiation of an oral trial.
This development comes after the two young men have spent nearly eight months in what many consider unjust and arbitrary detention since their arrest on February 6, 2026. Until this past Thursday, there had been no formal prosecutorial request or trial date set.
Additionally, the same day saw the East Havana Municipal People's Court sentencing content creator Anna Bensi and her mother to two years of restricted freedom for recording and sharing a meeting with a Ministry of the Interior (MININT) agent on social media.
The concurrence of these events highlights the Cuban regime's systematic pattern of repression against creators of critical content.
Charges and Allegations
The prosecution accuses the two young men from Holguín of crimes such as Propaganda Against the Constitutional Order, Defamation of Institutions and Organizations and of Heroes and Martyrs, and Incitement to Commit Crimes. These charges are based on content they produced and shared on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube between November and December 2025.
The accusation claims that from November 7, 2025, the defendants acted in concert, funded their equipment with remittances from abroad, and maintained contact with exiled opposition figures in Spain, including Yunior García Aguilera, Carolina Barrero, and Amelia Calzadilla, from whom they allegedly sought advice and scripts.
Denial of Allegations
Mileydis Medina Machín, Medina's mother, refuted these charges in statements to Martí Noticias.
"They used common media. These are not advanced or sophisticated technology items. Naturally, no weapons, propaganda, leaflets, or posters were seized," Medina Machín asserted.
Regarding the alleged contact with exiled opponents, she was equally firm: "These are individuals who have, at some point, expressed their disagreement with certain occurrences in this country, but that proves nothing."
Medina Machín remains pessimistic about the outcome of the proceedings.
"We know there is no rule of law in Cuba, we lack any legal guarantees, and their opinion prevails. They will be condemned for exercising their right to freedom of speech," she lamented.
Legal Irregularities
The case has been marked by numerous procedural irregularities. During the arrest operation, agents refused to show a search warrant and acted without eyewitnesses, violating Law No. 143 of the Criminal Procedure.
A habeas corpus petition was dismissed by the Provincial Court, and the U.S. Embassy in Cuba demanded the immediate release of both founders in August.
Human rights organization Cubalex also condemned the violation of due process, warning that "the extension of pretrial detention for six months without a prosecutorial request or trial date heightens concerns about the procedural guarantees for both young men."
El 4tico, an audiovisual project that emerged in Holguín in 2024, produced socio-political analysis and critique, amassing approximately 80,000 followers on Instagram before its creators were detained.
Following the ten-day period in which attorneys will prepare their defense, the court will set a date for the oral trial hearings.
Medina Machín expressed her family's grim certainty: "Perhaps the sentence will be slightly reduced, but we have no doubt they will be convicted," she concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about the El 4tico Case
What charges are Medina and Zayas facing?
They are facing charges including Propaganda Against the Constitutional Order, Defamation of Institutions and Organizations and of Heroes and Martyrs, and Incitement to Commit Crimes based on their online content.
How long have Medina and Zayas been detained?
The two founders have been in detention for about eight months since their arrest on February 6, 2026.
What is the significance of the case against El 4tico?
The case underscores the Cuban regime's pattern of repression against creators of critical content and raises concerns about the lack of legal guarantees and due process in Cuba.