Related videos:
The comedian Alejandro García, known as Virulo, published a message on where he spoke out against the repression of citizens expressing their ideas in Cuba, while also reiterating his opposition to any foreign intervention in the country’s affairs.
In his post, Virulo wrote:
"I don't want Trump to save me from anything. The problems of Cuba must be resolved by Cubans without interference from the Americans. But we shouldn't suppress those who raise their voices and express their ideas without committing any crime; that is an inalienable right."
In the comments section, he clarified the context of his position.
He acknowledged that his message directly refers to what is happening with the two young individuals detained in Holguín, linked to the independent project El4tico.
"That's why I say that no one should be repressed if they haven't committed a crime," he emphasized.
It is noteworthy that Virulo—one of the strongest defenders of the regime in the artistic sector—criticized the government for persecuting and detaining individuals who have committed no crime and are merely exercising their right to express themselves.
The comedian, who in 2022 received an acknowledgment from the Ministry of the Armed Forces for his "commitment to the revolution", now questions the way in which power acts towards those who think differently.
Despite the questionable interest of a figure historically associated with the official discourse, their message joins a growing chorus of voices—both within and outside of Cuba—condemning the government for repressing young people whose only "crime" is to express opinions, analyze, or critique the realities of the country.
In a context where the economic, social, and moral crisis hits millions of Cubans, the state's response continues to be control and intimidation.
The underlying problem is this: the criminalization of independent thought and the use of repression as a political tool in a dictatorship.
What happened with El4tico?
Virulo's statement comes following the arrest in Holguín of Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina, who are linked to the project El4tico, an initiative known on social media for its sociopolitical analyses and critiques regarding the Cuban reality.
According to reports from activists and the platform Ciudadanía y Libertad, both were arrested during a police operation and taken to the Criminal Instruction headquarters in Holguín, known as "Everyone Sings," a facility criticized for practices of violent interrogations and degrading treatment.
During the raid, the agents seized computers, phones, cameras, and equipment used by the youth to document their work.
The project El4tico released a video of the moment of the operation, where an officer can be heard claiming that he had an order to enter. Since then, social media and activists have expressed solidarity with those arrested under the hashtag #TodosSomosEl4tico.
Various public figures, including Luis Alberto García and Ulises Toirac, as well as the United States Embassy in Cuba, have called for the human rights of Kamil Zayas and Ernesto Ricardo Medina to be respected and for their release.
Virulo's intervention is particularly significant because he has been, for decades, a defender of the Cuban political system.
Her stance does not challenge the control of power from a traditional opposition position; rather, it highlights an internal rift: even voices historically aligned with the regime acknowledge that repressing ideas is incompatible with any notion of justice or dignity.
The case arises in a country marked by blackouts, inflation, mass migration, and profound social unrest. In this context, any voice that criticizes the system is treated as a threat, rather than as a citizen exercising a right.
Filed under: