The Cuban actor Carlos Massola passed away this Wednesday in Havana at the age of 62.
Fabio Corchado Borroto, an opposition figure and close friend of Massola, expressed his sorrow over the loss through a post on Facebook.
"My brother Carlos Massola has just passed away. Yesterday he called me to tell me how bad he was feeling, and this morning his mother called to inform me of his death. Rest in peace, my brother. I am devastated," he expressed.
It also echoed the passing of activist and actress Yamilka Lafita (Lara Crofs on social media), stating on Facebook that "she never remained silent in the face of injustice, that her voice never wavered when expressing her feelings, and, above all, the country she longed to return to act in."
"We met and debated hundreds of times about the daily struggle that we face as those who want a free Cuba. We dreamed a lot, a lot. I am truly sorry, dear Carlos, I will always remember you as the supportive and just friend," he added.
A note published by the independent outlet CubaNet, with which the actor collaborated, indicated that his death had been confirmed by his mother.
In one of his recent social media broadcasts, the actor addressed Cuban workers for May Day, acknowledging their daily efforts and asserting that they do not deserve the treatment they receive from the government.
"I have great respect for people who work. There are many people in Cuba who work hard, very hard," said Massola. "Once again... Down with the dictatorship! Down with communism! Down with tyranny! Homeland, Life, and Freedom!"
In mid-March, Massola expressed his support for the Cuban people, who had taken to the streets in several cities to demand freedom and basic human rights from the island's regime.
In an exclusive interview with CubaNet, Massola aligned himself with the Cuban people, who are exhausted by "so much indignity, so much nonsense, and so much misery," and declared, "This dictatorship cannot survive another year."
At the beginning of this year, the actor met with activists and families of political prisoners in Havana, once again demonstrating his commitment to the cause of freeing political prisoners and advocating for freedom in Cuba.
Massola met with the doctor and political activist Fernando Vázquez Pérez, as well as two relatives of political prisoners from the 11J protests: Luis Wilber Aguilar, the father of Walnier Luis Aguilar Rivera, a young man with mental health issues sentenced to 23 years in prison, and Ángel Delgado, the ex-husband of opposition member Lisandra Góngora, who is serving a 14-year prison sentence.
Last October, the actor voiced strong criticism of Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding the suffering of political prisoners and their families, expressing particular concern for the cases of Walnier and Lisandra.
"What is the point of making political prisoners and their families suffer? Let them out of prison if you have nothing to lose. They are not a threat to you; they have no weapons to harm you," he demanded in a message.
"Why do you make the poor families of political prisoners suffer, like Lisandra Góngora's, forcing the father to take the kids all the way to the Isle of Youth, to Wilmer? I'm asking you for a bit of kindness, save your people while you can, because they're already in a tough situation," he added then.
Due to his activism and public statements, Massola faced institutional censorship for expressing his criticisms of the situation in Cuba on social media. As a result, he also felt estranged from his cousin, the actress and star presenter of the regime, Edith Massola.
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