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The official Cuban journalist Pedro Jorge Velázquez, known on social media as "El Necio", reacted after the United States imposed visa restrictions on him for his alleged involvement in campaigns of harassment against American diplomats in Cuba.
In a lengthy statement on his X account, the regime's spokesperson attempted to portray himself as a victim of political retaliation.
"I am an ordinary young Cuban. For the past 5 years, I have been doing my work through social media and collaborating with press outlets. I have no job ties to the Cuban government: I am currently not working with any media outlets or state institutions," he wrote.
Regarding the sanction imposed by the U.S. government, he stated that it is "irrelevant."
"I have never had, nor have I applied for a visa to enter the US. It has never crossed my mind to visit that country, with so much beauty in Latin America and so much humanism in the neighborhoods of my country," he stated.
The measure adopted by Washington is part of a policy announced by the State Department against individuals linked to acts of harassment and intimidation against its diplomatic staff on the Island.
The U.S. government points to Necio for actions against the head of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Mike Hammer, including the dissemination of content deemed sensitive, such as images showing diplomatic plates and vehicles.
He categorically denied the accusations. "I have never seen Mike Hammer in my life. I can't 'harass' someone I have never encountered,” he stated in another message.
He also asserted that what has been labeled as harassment was actually a "journalistic investigation" into the purchase of fuel by U.S. diplomats in Cuba.
According to him, he demonstrated that US diplomats in Havana buy fuel (gasoline) in Havana: "the same fuel that they block from Cuba is then consumed by them."
He stated that the sanction constitutes "a precedent of censorship and coercion over every young Cuban who expresses themselves against the blockade on Cuba" and described it as "an obvious attack on the exercise of free and independent journalism that I practice."
Visa restrictions for Cubans were announced after Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that Washington is aware of the identities of those who have participated in acts of harassment against the head of the diplomatic mission in Havana.
"I want these people to understand that we know who they are and that we will respond accordingly," he wrote on X.
The measures include the cancellation of existing visas, permanent inadmissibility to enter U.S. territory, and the revocation of ongoing immigration processes for those participating in these actions.
This week, Washington announced new sanctions against Cuban citizens identified as participants in hostile gatherings outside the United States Embassy in Havana and in repudiation acts and demonstrations against its diplomats.
The authorities indicated that they are visually documenting those involved as part of a verification process and potential future sanctions.
In this context, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart publicly supported the measure, stating that "anyone who threatens U.S. officials will face consequences."
For its part, the State Department reiterated that its diplomats will continue to meet with the Cuban people "despite the regime's failed intimidation tactics."
The decision is part of a policy response to acts deemed hostile against foreign representatives, in accordance with international standards that require diplomats to carry out their duties without intimidation.
Meanwhile, El Necio concluded his thread on X by stating: "I will remain here in Cuba, telling the truth about my circumstances, the hardships of these times, making the necessary critiques, and advocating for a better world."
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