Related videos:
Roberto Álvarez Ávila's wife, one of the survivors of the boat incident in Cuban waters, publicly defended him in an interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón, describing him as “a good person who loves Cuba” and “a fighter for freedom.”
The spouse demands to know where he is, in what conditions he is, and requests an investigation from the authorities in the United States.
The statement came amid uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of Álvarez Ávila, following the Cuban official version's report of dead and injured people after the confrontation and labeling those involved as "terrorists," claims that the family rejects and states they cannot verify.
"He's not a terrorist": the family's defense
During the conversation, family members (sister and wife) insisted that Roberto is not a violent person and denied that he has a criminal record.
"He is not a terrorist. He is not a violent person… he is a hardworking man, a good man," they stated, emphasizing that the objective they were aware of was his desire to see "a free Cuba," but insisting that they were unaware of any "plan" or "project" related to a boat.
The family stated that what troubles them the most is not having official confirmation about their situation: "We don't know where they are... no one has seen them... no one knows if it's real," they said, questioning the lack of direct information about the detainees and the injured.
Who is Roberto Álvarez Ávila, according to his surroundings?
In the publication, Roberto Álvarez Ávila is described as a U.S. citizen who arrived in the United States at the age of nine, father of three girls, with 17 years of marriage, and with a life established "through hard work," including a farm and a love for animals.
Images published by Pentón also show him lovingly caressing his animals.
His wife, visibly distressed, reported that she is experiencing anxiety due to the lack of news: "I'm in a state of nerves... I don't know anything about him... I want to know about him," she said.
She also described him as a "cheerful" person who "always enjoyed laughing" and a lover of animals "since he was little."
Relatives expressed skepticism toward the narrative spread by the Cuban government.
They expressed that they do not understand how, if the group was "armed to the teeth" and wearing "bulletproof vests," as claimed from Havana, the outcome would have been—according to reports—that everyone ended up dead or injured. "The story is not being told accurately," they insisted.
They also indicated that relatives in Cuba sought information at medical centers, without conclusive results, and reported that they have not been officially informed about Roberto's whereabouts or the actual state of his injuries.
In her final message, the wife urged U.S. authorities to do "everything possible" to clarify what happened and take appropriate action, reminding that Roberto is an American citizen.
He demanded that "the appropriate investigations with evidence" be conducted, referring to the existence of technological means to determine what really happened.
Filed under: