Independent journalists Yunia Figueredo and Frank Correa were arrested on Wednesday in Havana after refusing to comply with a police summons.
The arrest occurred after both communicated their refusal to go to the police station located on 110th Street, between 3rd and 3rd A, in the Playa municipality, where they were required to appear that day at 3:00 PM.
The information was confirmed by the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press (ICLEP), which received a message from Figueredo moments before his arrest: "They are detaining us. They are coming over here."
Since then, their whereabouts are unknown.
On Tuesday, a State Security agent showed up at the couple's home to warn them that they could only leave to attend the interrogation to which they had been summoned.
Both reporters responded that "their house was not a prison" and refused to comply with the arbitrarily imposed house arrest, as heard in an audio disseminated by ICLEP on its Facebook profile.
According to the organization, this detention is not an isolated incident, but part of a systematic pattern of repression against a free press in Cuba.
"The imprisonment of Yunia and Frank is part of a sustained policy to stifle independent information through express detentions, intimidating summonses, internet cuts, and physical violence," denounced ICLEP, which demanded guarantees for their physical and psychological integrity.
Both journalists have been targets of surveillance, threats, and pressure due to their work in independent media, a profession criminalized on the Island.
A climate of increasing repression
The arrest of Figueredo and Correa is not an isolated incident.
It is part of a series of repressive acts orchestrated by the Cuban government to stifle any expression of dissent around two sensitive dates: July 4th, Independence Day in the United States, and July 11th, the anniversary of the social protests in 2021 that shook the country.
The independent portal CubaNet recalls that just this week, the Camagüey journalist Henry Constantín, director of La Hora de Cuba, was detained without a court order while accompanying the reporter and actress Iris Mariño to a summons.
He was transferred handcuffed to the Villa María Luisa unit, the headquarters of State Security in Camagüey, and remains there under investigation for the alleged crime of contempt, after denouncing a repressive agent on social media.
His partner managed to visit him remotely and confirmed that he is in good health, although the authorities refuse to provide details.
The personal visit has just been authorized for next Monday. Constantín, who has been detained multiple times, is a key figure in documenting the repression in the central part of the country.
Coordinated arrests against dissent
On July 2, Berta Soler, leader of the opposition movement Damas de Blanco, was also detained right after leaving her home on her way to a reception organized by the United States Embassy in Havana.
Her husband, the former political prisoner Ángel Moya, reported that since early in the morning, the house was surrounded by a heavy police operation.
The regime deployed similar actions in various parts of the country to prevent activists from attending the diplomatic celebration of July 4th organized at the diplomatic headquarters.
Among those affected are the dissenting rapper Osvaldo Navarro and activist Marthadela Tamayo, intercepted in the Cerro municipality; doctor Oscar Elías Biscet and his wife Elsa Morejón, as well as journalist Camila Acosta and her partner, writer Ángel Santiesteban, who were placed under house arrest.
Threats were also reported in provinces such as Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Pinar del Río, where State Security forces blocked opponents attempting to travel to the capital.
Silencing civil society
The objective of this repressive operation seems clear: to isolate journalists, activists, and dissenters from contact with diplomats and international media, in an attempt to control the narrative about Cuba during times of high global visibility.
Meanwhile, the Cuban regime has accused the chargé d'affaires of the U.S. embassy, Mike Hammer, of interference and has hinted at possible diplomatic reprisals.
Far from demonstrating strength, these arbitrary detentions reflect the state's fear of free expression and its citizens' connection to the outside world.
Each arrest, each operation, is a sign of the growing isolation and institutional decline of a regime that can no longer conceal or disguise its repression.
Frequently Asked Questions about the repression against journalists and activists in Cuba
Why were journalists Yunia Figueredo and Frank Correa detained in Havana?
Independent journalists Yunia Figueredo and Frank Correa were detained in Havana for refusing to respond to a police summons. Their detention is part of a systematic pattern of repression against free press in Cuba, which includes swift detentions, intimidating summons, and internet shutdowns.
What is the context of repression in Cuba in the days leading up to July 4th?
Repression in Cuba intensifies during periods of high international visibility, such as July 4th, Independence Day in the United States. The Cuban government has organized detentions and surveillance to prevent activists and journalists from participating in diplomatic events, such as the reception organized by the United States Embassy in Havana.
What complaints has the Inter American Press Society made about the repression in Cuba?
The Inter-American Press Society (SIP) has condemned the detention of journalist Henry Constantin and has demanded his release. The SIP denounces the harassment and systematic censorship against independent press in Cuba, particularly on symbolic dates such as the anniversary of July 11th.
How does repression affect freedom of expression in Cuba?
Repression in Cuba severely affects freedom of expression through arbitrary detentions, surveillance, threats, and communication restrictions. The Cuban regime seeks to stifle any expression of dissent and to control the narrative about the island, particularly during times of heightened international visibility.
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