Regime denies violent arrest of actor Frank Artola's children: “Those events did not occur”

The Cuban regime denied the violent arrest of the actor's childrenFrank Artoladuringstreet protests in Havana at the beginning of October, despite the physical traces left by the beatings and the photographic testimony of theAFP Agency, which captured the moment when her daughter was raped by a repressor dressed in civilian clothes.

“Those events did not occur”, the judicial authorities stated in their response to the habeas corpus appeal filed by the actor and which was denied with “very strange responses,” such as that“AFP photos are not acceptable”.

After spending a month in instruction cells at the 100 and Aldabó detention center,Artola's children were sent to prison at the beginning of this week. “Even if I have to knock on the last door, the door of heaven, I promise you your freedom. God with us,” said the mother of both young people,Ibis Plasencia.

In statements this Wednesday toCubaNet, Artola commented on the efforts made by the couple to get their children out of prisons, as well as the responses received from the authorities, to which the Cuban actor has filed a lawsuit for the violence used by individuals dressed in civilian clothes and without identify that their children were detained “inappropriately and illegally.”

Fifteen days after the arrest, as required by law, the parents ofFrank Artola (17 years old) andHillary Gutierrez (26) presented their complaint to the Prosecutor's Office, which has 60 days to respond. In the independent media interview, Artola reported that his son was transferred to the Youth of the West prison and his daughter to the Women of the West prison. Both have been denied a “change of measure.”

Hillary, the mother of a six-year-old girl, was not allowed to receive a visit from her mother “for health reasons,” and she was only able to hand over her toiletries and clothing to the prison authorities. However, Artola was able to see Frank for two hours and indicated that he was discouraged, but in good health.

Likewise, the actor revealed that the prosecution denied his habeas corpus appeal within the legal period of 48 hours after it was presented, which is why he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. However, the argument put forward by the Prosecutor's Office is surprising, denying that violence had been exercised against their children, despite evidence that proves otherwise.

“They were detained in a deplorable manner. They beat Francito savagely. He lost consciousness, bled from his nostrils, had a swollen eye for a week, and had injuries to his legs because he was dragged across the asphalt. All of this was done by people in civilian clothes, unidentified strangers. Hillary was also attacked by a civilian, the man of whom there was graphic testimony,” Artola toldCubaNet.

Accused of the alleged crimes of “contempt” and “public disorder”, young people could have sentences of 3 months to a year. The change of measure requested on two occasions has not been accepted for both of them to wait for the judicial resolution at home.

“I don't understand it, I don't understand the reason for the denial of the change of measure,” said Artola, clinging to the argument that his children have no criminal record. They have to hide reality from Hillary's daughter, he said, and tell her lies about her mother's absence.

Finally, the actor thanked those who have expressed their solidarity, especially in the union of Cuban actors and artists, and considered that this gesture cannot be considered "against the revolution or against any system."

Among them,the actor Erdwin Fernández Collado, who described the repressors as beasts and assured that one of those who attacked the brothers is the same one who appears in the photos ofAFP slapping a woman in Vedado.

Published on social networks, the images caused Cuban activists to launch a message for citizens to helpidentify the repressor who appeared to brutally beat a woman which was manifested in the protests that broke out in the Havana neighborhood of Vedado due to the prolonged and frequent blackouts, and cheers shouting for Freedom.