The political prisoner Luis Robles Elizástegui, detained by State Security after demonstrating in the street demanding an end to repression and the release of rapper Denis Solís, reported having suffered physical and psychological torture in prison.
“I had a very difficult few months, with the police on top of me all the time, with psychological torture. They chained me for no reason, for pleasure. For speaking with the opposition, they put me in a punishment cell to prevent me from communicating,” the young man denounced this Thursday in a telephone conversation held with the opposition member Ángel Moya Acosta.
This Saturday, December 4, Robles ElizásteguiIt has been exactly one year since he was detained for peacefully demonstrating on San Rafael Boulevard. with a sign labeled by him demanding the release of Solís and the end of the violence that State Security exercised against the San Isidro Movement (MSI) during the days after the quartering at the headquarters of several of its members, who were later violently evicted. .
“I am imprisoned in the Eastern Combination, almost a year old. "They haven't tried me yet, they haven't told me anything, I don't know what they plan to do with me," the young man declared in the conversation with Moya Acosta.
Likewise, he explained what the “chaining” to which he was sometimes subjected consisted of, as he reported. “It consists of restraint using a system of handcuffs that they call 'Shakiras', a chain that surrounds your waist and from which others come out that tie your hands and feet. They leave me for hours like this in a room, standing, without allowing me to sit down,” he said.
Robles Elizástegui also reported being surrounded by “chivatones,” or common prisoners who are willing to report the behavior of other prisoners to the prison guards and the police. “In fact, the punishments that have been imposed on me many times are because of these snitches who tell the police about the things you say or what you do,” he revealed.
The degrading and humiliating treatment suffered by political prisoners in Cuba was also exposed by the young man. “They strip you naked in front of other prisoners, they keep you chained for hours for no reason.I have been in a punishment cell up to 5 times.", he claimed.
“The last two occasions they took me [to the punishment cell] for making public complaints about the human rights violations that are committed here. On the last occasion they left me without food for three days,” said the human rights activist who is confined in Building 3, 4th North, Company 3406 of the Combinado del Este prison.
“Political prisoner of conscience, Luis Robles, several times subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (torture) by order of the repressors of State Security,” indicated Cuban opposition figure Ángel Moya in a Facebook post in which he shared the recording of the call made by Robles Elizástegui from prison.
Graduate of computer science and natural from the province of Guantánamo,The young Cuban spent his 29th birthday in prison this Thursday. Accused of the alleged crimes of "enemy propaganda" and "resistance", the Prosecutor's Office is requesting a joint sentence of six years for him for taking to the streets with a poster calling for an end to repression and justice for Solís.
After a year detained for this reason, there is still no date for his trial. Initially scheduled to be held on July 16 at the Diez de Octubre Popular Municipal Court, the trial was suspended as a result of the anti-government protests that took place on July 11.
In mid-August, the non-governmental organizationHuman Rights Watch (HRW) demanded the release of the young Cuban. In a tweet published by José Miguel Vivanco, executive director for the Americas of HRW, he denounced his stay for 15 days in a punishment cell and his imprisonment for the only "crime" of peacefully protesting for "freedom" and "no+repression."
Declared a prisoner of conscience by the NGO Prisoners Defenders (PD) since January 2021, The authorities have twice denied Robles a change of precautionary measure claimed by his lawyer.
His case has motivated numerous complaints from institutions and organizations that monitor the Human Rights situation on the island. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations Human Rights Council ruled months ago thatHis arrest qualifies as arbitrary detention and urged the Cuban government to release him.
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