Majority of political prisoners on FHRC’s list released…several with conditions.
Many prisoners of conscience remain incarcerated, denied basic human rights.
Miami, FL – The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) can now confirm the release of the following political prisoners and prisoners of conscience cited in FHRC’s original political prisoner list as of 3 pm (EST), January 13th, 2015:
- Alexander Otero R. (List # 1) released on 1/8/15
- Alexeis Vargas (List # 2) released on 1/8/15
- Angel Figueredo C. (LIst # 5) released on 1/8/15
- Ángel Yunier Remón “El Crítico” (List # 6) released on 1/8/15
- Anoy Almeida P. (List # 7) released on 1/8/15
- Aracelio Riveau N. (List # 8) released on 1/8/15
- Bianko Vargas M. (List # 10) released on 1/7/15
- Carlos M. Figueredo (List # 11) released on 1/8/15
- Daniel E. Quesada (List # 13) released on 1/8/15
- David Piloto B. (List # 15) released on 1/8/15
- Diango Vargas M. (List # 16) released on 1/7/15
- Emilio Plana R. (List # 20) released on 1/8/15
- Enrique Figuerola M. (List # 21) released on 1/7/15
- Ernesto R.Riveri G. (List # 22) released on 1/7/15
- Ernesto Tamayo G. (List # 23) released on 1/8/15
- Haydee Gallardo S. (List # 24) released on 1/8/15
- Ivan Fernandez D. (List # 26) released on 1/8/15
- Jose Lino Asencio (List # 28) released on 1/8/15
- Julio Cesar Vegas S. (List # 31) released on 1/8/15
- Lazaro Romero H. (List # 32) released on 1/7/15
- Leonardo Paumier R. (List # 33) released on 1/8/15
- Marcelino Abreu H. (List # 35) released on 1/6/15
- Mario Hernandez L. (List # 36) released on 1/8/15
- Miguel Guerra H. (List # 37) released on 1/8/15
- Roberto A. Fernandez (List # 41) released on 1/9/15
- Roberto Hernandez (List # 42) released on 1/8/15
- Rolando Reyes R. (List # 43) released on 1/8/15
- Ruberlandis Maine V. (List # 44) released on 1/8/15
- Vladimir Ortiz S. (List # 45) released on 1/8/15
- Wilbert Parada M. (List # 46) released on 1/8/15
- Yohannes Arce S. (List # 50) released on 1/8/15
- Yordanis Mendoza (List # 51) released on 1/8/15
The following political prisoners, not mentioned in FHRC’s original list, have also been released, including those released prior to December 17th of last year and those for whom FHRC has not been in direct communication and / or is not familiar with their individual cases:
- Aliciabades Guerra Marin (release details unknown)
- Cesar Andres Sanchez Perez (release / case details unknown)
- David Bustamante Rodriguez released November 2014
- Eider Frometa Allen released November 2014
- Eliso Castillo Gonzalez released November 2014
- Eugenio Hernández released on 12/9/14
- Jorge Cervantes Garcia released November 2014
- Jorge Ramirez Calderon released on 1/8/15
- Jose Leiva Diaz (release / case details unknown)
- Jose M. Rodriguez Navarro released on 1/8/15
- Juan Carlos Vasquez Osoria (released November 2014)
- Juliet Michelena Diaz (release details unknown)
- Luis Enrique Labrador Diaz released on 1/8/15 (case details unknown)
- Madeline Lazara Caraballo Betancourt (release / case details unknown)
- Miguel Alberto Ulloa (release / case details unknown)
- Miguel Angel Tamayo Frias released on 1/9/15
- Ramón Alejandro Muñoz released on 12/9/14
- Reiner Mulet Levis (release / case details unknown)
- Rubisney Villavicencio Figueredo (release / case details unknown)
- Sonia Garro Alfonso released on 12/9/14
- Vladimir Morera Bacallao (release / case details unknown)
The FHRC has been informed that several of the political prisoners released were excarcerated with certain conditions including “parole,” similar to the conditions placed on the 75 Cuban political prisoners released following Cuba’s “Black Spring” in 2003. This indicates that these individuals could be returned to prison or face a trial at a later date.
In addition, since December 26th of 2014, Danilo Maldonado Machado, a graffiti artist and activist, known as “El Sexto,” has been incarcerated and without trial. According to family members Maldonado has also suffered from pneumonia without proper medical treatment. The FHRC considers Maldonado to be a political prisoner and demands his immediate, unconditional release.
The FHRC continues to track 21 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience that remain in Cuban jails as of today. The names are provided in the original list below, except for two additional names including Osvaldo Rodriguez Castillo and Alfredo Limonte Rodriguez.
The FHRC continues to call on the Obama Administration and the Vatican to demand the immediate release of all remaining Human Rights activists, permanently and without conditions, including forced exile, parole, house arrest, and or any type of further harassment, detainment, or repression for political motives.
Again, the FHRC is aware that there continue to be additional political prisoners, outside of the list provided below, who are currently serving unjust sentences in Cuba, and being denied basic human rights, including several who have been detained since the December 17th announcement. The FHRC requests that these individuals also receive full consideration for their immediate, unconditional release.
FHRC Political Prisoner List (1/13/15 Updated)
|
NAME of PRISONER |
DATE ARRESTED |
SENTENCE |
ALLEDGED CRIME |
PRISON |
|
|
1 |
Alexander Otero R. |
3/26/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Bayamo |
|
2 |
Alexeis Vargas |
11/27/2012 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
3 |
Amado Verdecia D. |
10/20/2014 |
5 years |
Assault & Contempt |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
4 |
Andris Frometa C. |
4/12/1991 |
47 years |
Disrespect to authority |
Guantanamo |
|
5** |
Angel Figueredo C. |
5/26/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
La Habana |
|
6 |
Angel Yunier Remon |
3/26/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Bayamo |
|
7 |
Anoy Almeida P. |
5/9/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
Villa Clara |
|
8 |
Aracelio Riveau N. |
11/27/2012 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
9 |
Bianko Vargas M. |
2/12/2012 |
Released 1/7/15 |
Public Disorder |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
10 |
Carlos M. Figueredo |
5/15/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
La Habana |
|
11 |
Ciro A. Casanova P. |
6/5/2014 |
4 years |
Disorderly Conduct |
Villa Clara |
|
12 |
Daniel E. Quesada |
9/10/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
13 |
Darian E. Dufo P. |
5/15/2014 |
2 years |
Public disorder |
Guantanamo |
|
14 |
David Piloto B. |
1/14/2011 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
La Habana |
|
15 |
Diango Vargas M. |
2/12/2012 |
Released 1/7/15 |
Public Disorder |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
16 |
Eglis Heredia R. |
5/13/2014 |
5 years |
Theft |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
17 |
Elieski Roque C. |
|
5 years |
Lustful abuse |
Cienfuegos |
|
18 |
Eliover Quevedo V. |
|
3 years |
Trespassing |
Cienfuegos |
|
19 |
Emilio Plana R. |
9/23/2012 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Dangerousness |
Guantanamo |
|
20 |
Enrique Figuerola M. |
7/28/2012 |
Released 1/7/15 |
Assault |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
21 |
Ernesto R.Riveri G. |
11/27/2012 |
Released 1/7/15 |
Public Disorder |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
22 |
Ernesto Tamayo G. |
6/13/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Contempt |
La Habana |
|
23 |
Haydee Gallardo S. |
5/26/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
La Habana |
|
24 |
Hector Hierrezuelo |
3/20/2014 |
1 year |
Drug traffic |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
25 |
Ivan Fernandez D. |
7/30/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Propensity to Crime |
Placetas |
|
26 |
Joel M. Bencomo M. |
7/6/2014 |
3 years |
Disobedience |
Villa Clara |
|
27 |
Jose Lino Asencio |
5/9/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
Villa Clara |
|
28 |
Juan M. Valdes M. |
|
45 years |
Dissident |
Pinar del Rio |
|
29 |
Julio C. Valdes D. |
7/24/2013 |
2 yrs.6 mo |
Contempt |
La Habana |
|
30 |
Julio Cesar Vegas S. |
1/18/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Theft |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
31 |
Lazaro Romero H. |
11/27/2012 |
Released 1/7/15 |
Assault |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
32 |
Leonardo Paumier R. |
6/13/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Resistance to Arrest |
La Habana |
|
33 |
Liusban J. Utra |
3/6/2013 |
7 years |
Theft w. force |
Las Tunas |
|
34* |
Marcelino Abreu H. |
8/13/2012 |
*Released 1/6/15 |
Assault & Contempt |
|
|
35** |
Mario A. Hernandez L. |
5/26/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Public Disorder |
La Habana |
|
36 |
Miguel Guerra H. |
11/8/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Holguin |
|
37 |
Misael Delgado R. |
7/2/1905 |
6 years, 6mo |
Illegal possession of Beef |
Pinar del Rio |
|
38 |
Osvaldo Rodriguez A. |
9/23/2012 |
9 years |
Assault |
Mayabeque |
|
39 |
Ricardo Pelier F. |
5/15/2014 |
3 years |
Public disorder |
Guantanamo |
|
40 |
Roberto A. Fernandez |
4/17/2012 |
Released 1/9/15 |
Contempt |
La Habana |
|
41 |
Roberto Hernandez |
3/30/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
La Habana |
|
42** |
Rolando Reyes R. |
5/8/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Disorderly conduct |
La Habana |
|
43 |
Ruberlandis Maine V. |
8/25/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault & Contempt |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
44 |
Vladimir Ortiz S. |
6/15/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Resisting arrest |
La Habana |
|
45 |
Wilbert Parada M. |
3/30/2013 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
La Habana |
|
46 |
Yessel Rivero Boni |
|
|
Common Crime |
La Habana |
|
47 |
Yoanny T.Gonzalez |
4/2/2003 |
Life in prison |
Hijacking |
La Habana |
|
48 |
Yoelkis Rosabal |
5/15/2014 |
4 years |
Public Disorder |
Guantanamo |
|
49 |
Yohannes Arce S. |
5/13/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Guantanamo |
|
50 |
Yordanis Mendoza |
3/20/2014 |
Released 1/8/15 |
Assault |
Guantanamo |
|
51 |
Yuselin Ferrera E. |
9/24/2014 |
1 year |
Injuries to authority |
Santiago de Cuba |
|
52 |
Danilo Maldonado Machado “El Sexto” |
12/26/14 |
Pending |
Disrespect |
La Habana |
NOTES:
1) *We have received information that Marcelino Abreu, #34 on the list, was released on 1/6/15. Abreu has been jailed and subsequently released on various occasions due to multiple hunger strikes. Charges have included “disrespecting the figure of Fidel Castro” and “public disorder.”
2) **There are three pending sentences. (5, 35 & 42)
3) Under the Cuban judicial system any person can be sentenced for “Assault” for simply resisting arrest.
4) Any “nonviolent protester” may be accused & sentenced for Public Disorder, Disorderly Conduct or Contempt.
5) Contact FHRC for further Information on prisoners.
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (“FHRC”) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1992 to promote a nonviolent transition to a free and democratic Cuba by empowering independent Civil Society within Cuba. FHRC maintains regular contact with human rights defenders and civic activists who are working for change in Cuba through nonviolent means.
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