Cuba
Newly released Cuban political prisoners pose for a group shot at a Havana park on Sunday Jan. 11, 2015. The Cuban government completed its promise to free 53 political prisoners on a list drawn up by the United States.
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1. Emilio Plana Robert — Named a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. Member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba; jailed Sept. 23, 2012 and found guilty of “dangerousness.”
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2. Alexeis Vargas Martin, left, 3. Diango Vargas Martin, 4. Bianko Vargas Martin — Alexeis and his twin brothers were prisoners of conscience; members of the Patriotic Union; accused by police of using violence or intimidation against a state official. Jailed in 2012.
5. Iván Fernández Depestre — Amnesty says he was imprisoned solely because of his political views, which are contrary to the Cuban government. Arrested July 30, 2013 as he took part in an event to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Cuban hero Frank País. Charged with “dangerousness.”
6. Sonia Garro Alfonso, left, — Member of the Ladies in White, 7. Ramón Alejandro Muñoz González, right, Garro’s husband, 8. Eugenio Hernández Hernández, not pictured, the couple’s neighbor — All three were arrested on March 18, 2012 during a demonstration by government supporters who were trying to prevent them from taking part in an event commemorating the 2003 Black Spring crackdown on dissidents. They were charged with public disorder and attempted murder and Garro also faces the charge of using violent intimidation against a state official. Their trial had been postponed four times. Cuba’s public prosecutor said the men threw objects, including a television set, at state security agents. Chares are still pending.
9. Juliet Michelena Díaz — The independent journalist was arrested in April 2013 after photographing a police operation in April. The Committee to Protect Journalists said she was released in November.
10. Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga — A rapper known as el Critico del Arte (the art critic), he performed music with an anti-government theme and also posted anti-regime messages publicly. Arrested March 26. 2013 and charged with assault. He has staged hunger strikes while in jail; was secretary of the Patriotic Union in Bayamo.
11. Vladimir Morera Bacallao, left, and 12. Jorge Ramírez Calderón, right, — They were arrested in connection with an act of repudiation that took place outside the Ramírez home. Morera got eight years for various charges, including public disorder, assault* and disrespect, and Ramírez got four years. Morera, who was freed in Sept. 2014, went on a hunger strike at the Guamajal prison that lasted more than 100 days. *Cubans can be arrested for assault for resisting arrest.
13. Marcelino Abreu Bonora — Arrested Aug. 13, 2012 for distributing anti-government leaflets and shouting anti-Castro slogs on Fidel Castro’s birthday; was serving four years for public disorder and disrespect; jailed and subsequently released on various occasions due to hunger strikes. He was arrested again on Dec. 9 and held until Dec. 26, 2014.
14. Wilberto Parada Milán — Member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba; arrested March 30, 2013 after a protest in Havana and charged with assault, disrespect and resistance.
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15. Alcibiades Guerra Marin — Arrested Feb. 2014 and convicted of disrespecting Fidel Castro. He had protested his wife’s detention by shouting “Abajo Fidel!”
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16. José Leiva Díaz — Member of the Patriotic Union. He was freed in July after completing two years for “desacato,” or lack of respect.
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17. Eider Frometa Allen — Member of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy; charged in 2014 of damaging a car that belonged to a state security official; after arrest, he went on a hunger strike. Freed in July 2014 after serving four months.
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18. Alexander Roberto Fernández Rico — Arrested in April 2012 and sentenced to three years for shouting anti-Castro slogans after allegedly seeing a police officer beating a passenger on a bus; went blind in prison.
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19. Aracelio Riviaux Noa — Patriotic Union activist from Santiago; arrested Nov. 27, 2012 and had been serving time for public disorder.
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20. David Piloto Barcelo — Sentenced to five years in prison in 2011 for defiance and public disorder after throwing anti-government leaflets in the air in Havana’s Revolution Square.
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21. Enrique Figuerola Miranda — Patriotic Union activist released from Boniato prison. Arrested July 28, 2012 and charged with assault.
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22. Jose Manuel Rodríguez Navarro — Detained in 2013 and sentenced to four years; he was accused of writing letters denouncing the Cuban government.
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23. Lazaro Romero Hurtado — Patriotic Union activist; arrested in Nov. 2012 and sentenced to four years for public disturbance and threats.
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24. Luis Enrique Labrador Díaz — Jailed in 2011 and sentenced to five years for distributing anti-government leaflets in Havana.
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25. Madeline Lazara Caraballo Betancourt — The U.S. list notes that she is on probation. A Lady in White, she was released in April.
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26. Miguel Alberto Ulloa Ginard — Human rights activist and member of the Republic Party of Cuba.
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27. Reiner Mulet Levis — Activist with the Republic Party of Cuba. Arrested on April 2013 on charges of “damaging state property” for painting slogans against the government in public places. Was awaiting trial.
28. Roberto Hernández Barrios — Patriotic Union activist; arrested after protest near Old Capitol building in Havana on March 30, 2013. Convicted of assault, disrespect and resistance; sentenced to five years.
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29. Alexander Otero Rodríguez — A Patriotic Union of Cuba activist. Arrested on March 26, 2013, in Bayamo on charges of assault.
30. Ángel Figueredo Castellón, left, — husband of Haydée Gallardo, a Lady in White, right,. Arrested with her May 26, 2014 and charged with public disorder.
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31. Anoy Almeida Pérez — Member of the Cuban Reflection Movement. Arrested in May 2013 on charges of “public disorder” and sentenced to 2 years in prison.
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32. Carlos Manuel Figueroa Alvarez — Arrested Jan. 22, 2014 for disrespecting the image of Raúl Castro and sentenced to three years.
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33. César Andrés Sánchez Pérez — A prisoner since 2010; sentenced to 6 years for “contempt and assault.” Reportedly was released one year ago.
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34. Daniel Enrique Quesada Chaveco — Member of Patriotic Union from Palma Soriano; Arrested Aug. 15, 2013 and charged with assault.
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35. David Bustamante Rodríguez — Member of Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU). Arrested May 26, 2014, after staging a protest from the roof of his house, near Santa Clara. Charged with “contempt of authority” and “insulting a government figure.” Sentenced to two years and freed at midnight on Dec. 9, 2014 with “conditional liberty.”
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36. Eliseo Castillo González: Member of Eastern Democratic Alliance in Antilla (Holguin). Arrested Aug. 30, 2012, after an altercation with police over a package of food sent to his family by relatives in Havana. Sentenced to 2 years in prison; released the end of July.
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37. Ernesto Roberto Riveri Gascon — Arrested Nov. 27, 2012 and charged with public disorder.
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38. Ernesto Tamayo Guerra — He was arrested on June 13, 2014 and was serving time in Havana for contempt.
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39. Haydeé Gallardo Salazar — Member of Ladies in White. On May 26, 2014, Gallardo, her husband Ángel Figueredo, their son and other dissidents went to a State Security office to get information on an opposition leader who had been detained. Instead, Gallardo and Figueredo were jailed and charged with public disorder. Since her release, Gallardo has taken part in a Ladies in White march.
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40. Jorge Cervantes García — Patriotic Union member. After 14 years in prison, he was freed in June 2010. Arrested again in May 2011 and sentenced to four years for putting up anti-government posters in public places. After several detentions, his parole was revoked and he returned to prison in 2012. He was freed in August.
41. Jose Lino Ascensio López: Arrested in May 2013, in Santa Clara, charged with “public disorder” and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. An activist with the Cuban Reflection Movement.
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42. Juan Carlos Vásquez Osoria — Member of Patriotic Union, a resident of Moa (Holguin). Arrested Dec. 11, 2012, at his home after attending a meeting of UNPACU activists. Charged with “contempt and resistance” and sentenced to 2 years in prison.
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43. Julio César Vega Santiesteban — Arrested Jan. 18, 2013 and charged with theft; before release was imprisoned in Santiago.
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44. Leonardo Paumier Ramírez — Arrested June 13, 2014, at a demonstration over food shortages and low wages and charged with resisting arrest.
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45. Miguel Angel Tamayo Frías — Activist in the Cuban Republican Party. Arrested on June 13, 2014, in Havana during a protest over food shortages and lack of jobs.
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46. Miguel Guerra Hastie — Arrested on April 25, 2014 in Antillas (Holguin province) for painting anti-government posters. Sentenced to three years. Affiliated with Patriotic Union of Cuba.
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47. Niorvis Rivera Guerra — Arrested March 2, 2012, for public disorder after he was beaten by police while staging a public protest. Because his 13-year-old daughter videotaped the beating, he was also charged with endangering a minor. In August 2012 he was additionally charged with damaging a TV set in the prison infirmary.
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48. Rolando Reyes Rabanal — An engineer. Arrested May 8, 2014, in Havana for public disorder after interrupting traffic while staging a peaceful protest.
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49. Ruberlandis Maine Villalón — An activist with UNPACU, Maine was arrested on Aug. 26, 2013, charged with “assault and disrespect” and given a five-year sentence.
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50. Sandalio Mejías Zulueta — Activist with the Cuban Liberal Party, arrested in May 2014 for shouting “down with the dictatorship” at a Havana government office. Charged with “pre-criminal dangerousness” and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
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51. Vladimir Ortiz Suárez — Arrested June 15, 2014, at a demonstration against food shortages and low wages and charged with resisting arrest.
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52. Yojannes Arce Sarmientos — Arrested May 13, 2014, in Guantanamo for resisting an officer and charged with assault. Went on a 23-day hunger strike. Affiliated with Patriotic Union of Cuba.
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53. Yordenis Mendoza Cobas — Arrested in March 2014, “after participating in a peaceful protest in Guantánamo against the lack of human rights in Cuba.” Charged with assaulting a police officer and sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Married, with three children.
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