This past Saturday, Cubalex introduced an unprecedented tool: an interactive and publicly accessible list of political prisoners in Cuba, available on their website with real-time updates from the organization's database.
At the time of release, the list accounted for 679 individuals incarcerated due to political reasons on the island.
Initially prepared at the request of international human rights mechanisms, this database is the culmination of ongoing monitoring efforts by Cubalex since its inception.
Each entry contains only essential details—name, age, gender, province, detention center, and verification status—to safeguard the integrity of the detainees, their families, and information sources.
Out of the 679 documented cases, 580 have identified prison locations, while 99 remain in undisclosed facilities. The average age of those documented is 40, based on 349 cases with known ages.
Cubalex clearly warns that this list is not exhaustive. "This isn't a complete census. We publish what we have been able to learn, document, and verify. The real number could be higher," stated Cubalex in the tool's introductory video.
The register includes individuals sentenced for crimes against State Security as well as those facing seemingly common charges.
According to the organization, "We include those facing common charges like contempt or public disorder when the context reveals that the true intent is to penalize protest, criticism, independent journalism, or human rights advocacy."
Cubalex defines as deprived of liberty anyone held under state custody for more than seven consecutive days. Moreover, they caution that release does not necessarily mean complete freedom: "Many of these individuals remain under state control, with open cases or the threat of re-incarceration."
Since the numbers update in real-time with each verified detention, release, or transfer, the organization advises always noting the consultation date when citing data.
"If a case hasn't been recently verified, it doesn't mean the person is free. It indicates the state has impeded access to the relevant information," clarifies the list's methodology.
This launch occurs amid increasing documented repression in Cuba: during the first half of 2026, Cubalex recorded 1,894 human rights violations events—over ten per day—compared to 1,279 in the latter half of 2025.
Violations against incarcerated individuals were the most common category, with 762 documented incidents.
Cuban prisons have also been a significant focus of repression recently: Cubalex documented 115 deaths in prisons between February 2024 and June 2026, attributing 70% to neglect or denial of medical care.
In September 2026 alone, there were 12 deaths linked to state custody, raising the documented prison deaths to 49 this year.
Other organizations report varying figures on the extent of political imprisonment: Justicia 11J counted 775 political prisoners in April 2026, whereas Prisoners Defenders recorded over 1,300 cases by the end of June.
These discrepancies arise from different methodologies, highlighting the importance of Cubalex making its verification criteria clear.
"Documenting is also a way to protect," concludes the organization, encouraging relatives, activists, and journalists to contribute to updating the register via a secure form on their website.
Key Insights into Cuba's Political Prisoner Database
What is the purpose of Cubalex's interactive list?
The interactive list aims to document and provide real-time updates on political prisoners in Cuba, highlighting the ongoing repression and human rights violations on the island.
How many political prisoners are documented on the list?
As of the list's release, there are 679 individuals documented as political prisoners in Cuba.
Why do figures from different organizations vary?
The differences in figures arise from distinct methodologies used by various organizations, which is why Cubalex emphasizes transparency in its verification process.