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The Cuban activist Arián Cruz Álvarez, known as Tata Poet, shared on Thursday how he managed to leave the country after spending several years "regulated" by State Security, which prohibited him from traveling and denied him a passport as a form of punishment for his activism.
In September, Tata Poet left Cuba to protect his life, after years of persecution and threats.
Through a post on , the artist and activist expressed gratitude for the support received and lamented not being able to say goodbye to many loved ones before leaving.
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"I'm sorry for such silence. My spirits haven't been the best. I've read every comment, and all I can do is feel very honored and loved," he wrote at the beginning of his message, where for the first time he explained how he managed to leave the country after a long battle with the authorities.
According to his account, in 2018 he had obtained a residence permit in Italy, but between 2020 and 2023 he was "regulated" by State Security, which prohibited him from traveling and renewing his passport.
"Every time I went to immigration, they told me the same thing: you are under regulation for being a person of interest," he explained.
The activist noted that the officers Ariel Arnau Grillet, also known as Luisito, and Joel Osmani Argüelles, known as Dennis, were the ones who imposed the measure to blackmail him and silence his activism.
"In the interrogations, they repeated the same line: either you keep quiet and leave, or we put you in jail, but since you are under regulation, you can't leave anyway," he recalled.
Tata Poet stated that he lost his residence in Italy because he chose not to cave to pressure and continued to denounce abuses, support the families of political prisoners, and help vulnerable individuals.
"I did not choose to stay silent or stop supporting other brothers," he said.
The travel restriction was lifted thanks to the assistance of a lawyer and several appeals made to the Ministry of the Interior.
After that, he managed to obtain a one-year visa for Italy and currently lives in Milan, although he acknowledges that his financial situation is difficult. “I am free from the clutches of those monsters,” he wrote.
The activist concluded his message with a cry for freedom: “Down with the dictatorship, damn it! Justice and freedom for all political prisoners!”
Tata Poet, a prominent figure in independent activism in Cuba, had denounced on multiple occasions the harassment by State Security and the reprisals for his work in favor of human rights.
In 2022, he was arrested after protesting the detention of his partner, the artist Rosmery Almeda Tapia, and in 2023, he reported physical assaults and threats.
Frequently asked questions about the Tata Poet case and the repression in Cuba
Why did Tata Poet decide to leave Cuba?
Tata Poet decided to leave Cuba to protect his life, after years of persecution and threats from State Security. His activism and defense of human rights made him a target of the regime, which imposed travel restrictions on him as a form of punishment.
How did Tata Poet manage to leave Cuba despite being "regulated"?
Tata Poet was able to leave Cuba after a lawyer assisted in lifting the travel restriction imposed by State Security. After several appeals to the Ministry of the Interior, he was able to obtain a one-year visa for Italy, where he currently resides.
What consequences do activists in Cuba face for their work?
Activists in Cuba, such as Tata Poet, face persecution, threats, arbitrary detentions, and travel restrictions by the State Security. These measures aim to silence their critical voices and limit their ability to expose the regime's abuses.
What message did Tata Poet leave upon leaving Cuba?
Upon leaving Cuba, Tata Poet sent a message of resistance and the struggle for freedom. He concluded his message with a cry for liberty: "Down with the dictatorship, damn it! Justice and freedom for all political prisoners!", reaffirming his commitment to the cause of human rights on the island.
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