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The health of the Cuban-German political prisoner Luis Frómeta Compte has deteriorated in the maximum-security prison of Combinado del Este, in Havana, as reported by his daughter, Janie Frómeta, via social media.
According to the non-governmental organization Cubalex, Frómeta Compte, 62 years old, is facing a severe hypertensive crisis, with a blood pressure of 240/110, a critical level that poses an imminent risk to his life.
Although a doctor examined him and he spent a night in the prison infirmary, his daughter noted that this care is not enough and demanded his urgent transfer to Germany for proper medical treatment.
"Uncontrolled hypertension in a person deprived of liberty, without access to adequate medical treatment or dignified living conditions, increases the risk of fatal complications," warned Cubalex.
Frómeta Compte, who holds German nationality, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the political crime of sedition for filming videos that were later shared on social media.
In 2023, he was the victim of a brutal beating. The severity of the injuries forced the authorities to take him to a hospital outside the prison.
His daughter questioned: “How much longer can this go on?”, making an urgent call to the international community to push for her release and ensure that she can be reunited with her family.
Frómeta Compte is one of the witnesses of the murder of Diubis Laurencio Tejeda during the demonstrations in La Güinera in Havana; the only recorded fatality as a result of the repression during the protests of July 11.
In recent months, several cases of deaths and health deterioration among political prisoners in Cuban prisons have been reported. One of them was the death of Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, in December 2024, at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana.
Activists and opposition organizations reported his death as a murder, claiming that it was the result of torture while in custody.
A few months earlier, Gerardo Díaz Alonso, sentenced to 14 years in prison for participating in the protests of July 2021, passed away due to a heart attack.
Recently, Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez, a 44-year-old political prisoner, died in the El Guatao Forced Labor Camp in Havana.
His death sparked international condemnation, including a statement from the United States government that described his death as a "murder at the hands of his captors."
There are also increasing reports regarding the health condition of political prisoners. One of them is Leoncio Rodríguez Ponce, who, after 36 years of incarceration, is in a deteriorated health condition due to a lack of adequate medical care.
On her part, the mother of prisoner Eider Frómeta Allen reported in April 2024 on the critical health condition of her son, confined in Boniato prison, Santiago de Cuba, who has lost around 15 kilograms without receiving adequate medical attention.
These situations have raised concern among international organizations and human rights advocates, who demand improvements in prison conditions and adequate medical care for inmates in Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of Political Prisoners in Cuba
What is the health status of Luis Frómeta Compte in prison?
Luis Frómeta Compte's health has seriously deteriorated in prison, suffering a severe hypertensive crisis with a blood pressure of 240/110, which poses a critical risk to his life.
Why was Luis Frómeta Compte convicted and what is his current situation?
Luis Frómeta Compte was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the crime of sedition, related to the filming of videos of the protests on July 11th. Currently, his health status is critical, and he is in a maximum-security prison in Cuba.
What complaints have organizations like Cubalex made about the situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
Cubalex has reported that political prisoners in Cuba face inhumane conditions, such as inadequate medical care, torture, and systematic neglect by the prison system, which has resulted in deaths in custody.
How has the international community responded to the human rights crisis in Cuban prisons?
The international community has expressed its concern and called for an end to arbitrary detentions, improvements in prison conditions, and the release of political prisoners in Cuba, but concrete actions remain limited.
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