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The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) of Cuba identified this Monday as Kenier Ávila Ramírez the individual who, at the end of last month, murdered a nine-year-old girl in the Popular Council Grito de Yara, in the municipality of Río Cauto, Granma province.
In a brief note that did not specify when the murder took place - which occurred on June 20 - nor the date of the capture of the murderer (presumably June 24, according to previous official reports), the MININT did indicate that Ávila Ramírez has "a long history of criminal and police records.”
The Ministry of the Interior also pointed out that the capture of the individual responsible for the "deplorable act" was made possible thanks to "joint forces of the Ministry of the Interior along with the people."
"Cuba is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols, based on the principles and values of Cuban socialist society, such as humanism, social justice, dignity, equality, and respect for the protection of children. In accordance with this, the full weight of the law shall fall on this criminal," concluded the official note, which did not express condolences to the victim's family.
The late statement from the Ministry of the Interior did not provide any further details about the circumstances of the tragic event.
Social feminicide
The feminist platforms Alas Tensas and YosíTeCreo in Cuba identified on June 30 Orlis Daniela Castillo Mayo as the girl who was allegedly beheaded in her own home by a neighbor now identified as Kenier Ávila Ramírez.
It is a tragic situation that the minor was the daughter of Yusmila Mayo Ruiz, who was a victim of femicide in February 2024 in the province of Las Tunas.
"Feminicide leaves its marks on families, especially in societies like Cuba where the state neither prevents, repairs, nor protects indirect victims," both platforms stated, and called for "justice and reparation for the girl and her mother."
“Due to the characteristics that have been confirmed so far of this irreparable crime that has shocked the nation, we classify it as social femicide, as it was committed by someone known and with extreme cruelty,” said the sources cited.
It was Orlis Daniela and her younger siblings who found their mother's body after she was killed by her partner on February 14 of last year.
"The terrible story of this little girl is not tragedy or destiny; it is the consequence of a broken society and a feminicide state that refuses to protect the lives of women and girls," added YoSíTeCreo en Cuba and Alas Tensas with severity.
“We ask for real protection for the other children of Yusmila (four alive today) and all the children who survived the femicide of their mothers in Cuba. We request support for the families left in their care, facing thousands of economic and management difficulties in a devastated country,” they concluded, before wishing light and rest for the girl and justice and restitution for the family.
On social media, it was previously revealed—based on the testimony of Kim Barban—that the minor was an orphan and lived with her grandparents, who did not have suitable conditions for her care.
According to that testimony, the education authorities had been alerted to arrange for his transfer to a children's home, but "nothing was done."
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