The Cuban government is intensifying its legal actions against Javier Ernesto Martín Gutiérrez, famously known as the "Cuban Spiderman." Despite being held in provisional detention since April, no trial date has been set for the athlete.
According to Martí Noticias, his partner reported that authorities have added two additional charges—contempt and propaganda against the constitutional order—to the initial charge of public disorder.
What makes the situation more severe is that the charge of contempt had initially been dismissed due to a lack of evidence. "It was proven that he hadn’t committed any contempt, and now they’ve reinstated the charge," Lisandra Cuza, the athlete's partner, stated.
The defense learned of the new charges in mid-September through a court document denying a request for judicial review. "The judicial review was obviously denied, but we were alarmed because two more charges had been added," Cuza explained.
The defense attorney has also been unable to access the case file. When he visited Villa Marista, the headquarters of State Security, he was told that "it hadn't been sent yet, it was still in the court."
Martín Gutiérrez, a 34-year-old mixed martial arts champion, was arrested on April 24 after peacefully protesting from his balcony in the Marianao municipality of Havana, where he criticized prolonged blackouts and the social crisis.
During his arrest, he reported being beaten by about ten State Security officers before being moved from the Marianao police station to Villa Marista and finally to the maximum-security Combinado del Este prison, where he remains detained.
In August, according to a Diario de Cuba investigation, the athlete sent a letter to the prosecutor reporting that toxicology tests, mental health evaluations, and inquiries into alleged foreign funding came back negative during the 22-day investigation, yet he was still placed in provisional detention.
In July, he warned that he would go on a hunger strike if a trial date was not set within six months.
MC K-Libre: Ailing, Imprisoned, and Awaiting Trial
Meanwhile, rapper Andrés Matos Alcántara, known as MC K-Libre, remains in Havana's 1580 prison without a trial date and facing severe health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 1 diabetes. In September, he also experienced episodes of hypertension during his detention.
Authorities denied a new request for a change in precautionary measures—the second rejection following another in July—and notified the family on Tuesday.
Musician Raudel Collazo, known as Escuadrón Patriota, publicly denounced the situation: "They are being especially cruel with his case because he is very critical of the dictatorship from within Cuba, that is his main crime, because the regime has nothing else against him."
Matos was arrested on June 25 when he responded to a police summons at the Siboney unit in the Playa municipality, where he was handcuffed and taken away without being shown an arrest warrant. Authorities associate him with protests in Barbosa triggered by blackouts lasting over 30 hours. His wife, Ariacna Garcés Gómez, denied that he had organized or incited these demonstrations.
These cases are part of a documented escalation of repression throughout 2026.
The Cuban regime holds a record number of 1,372 political prisoners, including 40 minors and 158 women, according to Prisoners Defenders.
Recent cases include Anna Bensi and her mother, sentenced to two years of restricted freedom for filming a MININT agent, and the founders of El4tico, for whom the prosecution is seeking up to 10 years in prison for propaganda against the constitutional order.
Anonymous sources within the Cuban penal system consulted by Diario de Cuba revealed that in cases classified as "sensitive" by the regime—when the accused has publicly questioned the government or participated in protests—"provisional detention far exceeds its legal precautionary function, becoming a mechanism for neutralization, procedural control, and preemptive punishment."
Understanding Cuba's Legal System and Political Repression
Why is Javier Ernesto Martín Gutiérrez known as the "Cuban Spiderman"?
Javier Ernesto Martín Gutiérrez is referred to as the "Cuban Spiderman" due to his exceptional skills and achievements in mixed martial arts.
What are the health issues faced by MC K-Libre while in detention?
MC K-Libre is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 1 diabetes. He has also experienced episodes of hypertension during his incarceration.
How many political prisoners does Cuba currently hold?
According to Prisoners Defenders, the Cuban regime currently has 1,372 political prisoners, including 40 minors and 158 women.
What is the significance of provisional detention in Cuba's legal system?
In cases deemed "sensitive" by the Cuban government, provisional detention is often used beyond its precautionary purpose, acting as a method of neutralizing dissent, exerting procedural control, and imposing preemptive punishment.