The wife of one of the young men detained in Holguín for his involvement with the independent project El4tico published a new message on social media to thank everyone for the expressions of support received both inside and outside of Cuba, and to urge that the demand for freedom not be halted.
"My name is Doris Santiesteban Batista, and I am the wife of Ernesto Medina and the mother of our daughter, Emma," the message begins in a video posted on Facebook. "On behalf of myself and my daughter, I want to sincerely thank all the Cubans inside and outside the island who have bravely raised their voices for us."
Santiesteban affirmed that, amid the difficult situation her family is experiencing, the support from the public has been crucial. "In challenging times, feeling that support gives us strength and hope," she expressed. She also thanked those who have called for the release not only of her husband but also of her project partner: "Thank you to each and every one of you who have stood in solidarity with our cause and have demanded freedom for Ernesto and Kamil. Your support has not gone unnoticed, I assure you."
In the same message, the young woman urged that public pressure continues. "I respectfully and humbly ask that today, more than ever, the fight does not stop, not only for them but for the freedom of all political prisoners and for a free Cuba. Infinitely grateful."
Ernesto Ricardo Medina and Kamil Zayas Pérez were arrested on February 6 during a police operation conducted in the early hours in Holguín, where State Security agents confiscated computers, phones, cameras, and other work equipment used in the production of content for the project El4tico.
Both were taken to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation known as "Everyone Sings". Subsequently, the activist Yanet Rodríguez Sánchez filed a habeas corpus petition that was accepted by the Provincial Court of Holguín, which scheduled a hearing for February 12 and ordered the Prosecutor's Office to comment on the legality of the detention, the charges brought, and the conditions of confinement.
The case has generated a growing wave of solidarity both inside and outside the island. The U.S. State Department stated that "the illegitimate Cuban regime continues its daily acts of repression and abuse" and noted that the youths were arrested "simply for denouncing the economic mismanagement of the dictatorship," according to an official statement shared on social media.
Cuban-American congressman Carlos A. Giménez also demanded their release and stated, "We don’t know where they are, we don’t know if they are okay." Meanwhile, pro-government host Michel Torres Corona argued on television that, in his opinion, "they should be released," although he framed his stance within the official discourse regarding the ongoing judicial process.
While awaiting the court hearing, Doris Santiesteban's message once again highlights the human impact of the detention and calls for continued demands for freedom for the young people of El4tico.
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