Cuban artist Dayán Melián Castro is arrested during a protest in Havana

The Cuban visual artist Dayán Melián Castro was detained on the night of March 11 in Havana during a day of protests and demonstrations against the prolonged blackouts affecting the Cuban capital.

The arrest was reported on social media by activists and artists close to the creator, who highlighted the lack of official information regarding his situation.

The curator and activist Anamely Ramos informed that the artist, originally from Camagüey and residing in Havana, was arrested while participating in a protest. “We have very little information, so we ask you to send us what you know, so we can try to support Dayán during these moments,” wrote Ramos, who also highlighted the artist's commitment to the reality of the country.

According to what he expressed, Melián Castro's work has been marked by "the pain for his beloved Cuba that is crumbling," and he defended that his place "is not a dark cell but contributing to the construction of a better country."

For his part, independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada claimed that the artist has been detained since Wednesday night and that, according to reports received, he is being held at the El Capri police unit in Havana.

So far, no official details are known about the reasons for the arrest or his legal situation, Mayeta added, demanding his immediate release.

The artist Yulier Rodríguez also confirmed that Melián Castro has been at that police station since the night of March 11.

The detention occurs against a backdrop of increasing social tension in the Cuban capital, where several consecutive days of pot-banging and neighborhood protests have been reported due to prolonged blackouts.

During the night of Wednesday, cacerolazos were reported in Diez de Octubre, Santos Suárez, Guanabacoa, La Lisa, El Cerro, and areas of Old Havana, where residents banged pots and pans from their homes to express their frustration over power outages, the heat, and difficulties in preserving food.

These protests have now totaled at least six consecutive nights of demonstrations in Havana, reflecting the growing public discontent over the decline in electricity service and living conditions.

So far, Cuban authorities have not provided any public information regarding the detention of Dayán Melián Castro, nor have they confirmed whether he will face charges. Meanwhile, activists and artists continue to demand his release and seek information about his whereabouts.