Related videos:
The Cuban political prisoner Roilán Álvarez Rensoler suspended his hunger strike (which lasted 50 days) on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest, amid the serious deterioration of his health condition.
According to the leader of the Cuban Patriotic Union (Unpacu), José Daniel Ferrer, the activist made the decision after discussing it with his sister Arianna Álvarez, and began to consume small amounts of fruit juice.
Álvarez Rensoler had been on a hunger strike for more than 50 days in protest against what he considers his arbitrary detention, which occurred on January 30 during opposition actions against the regime, Ferrer recalled on Facebook.
The opposition leader, who had been hospitalized for several days in critical condition, suffered a cardiac arrest that required resuscitation using a defibrillator, in an incident that heightened concerns about the imminent risk to his life.
After this incident, State Security ordered his transfer to the Holguín Provincial Prison. However, his health condition remains very critical, according to reports from family members and activists.
One day earlier, Ferrer had publicly requested the intervention of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as international organizations, due to the seriousness of the case.
Organizations and activists have denounced the lack of transparency from Cuban authorities regarding the situation of the prisoner, as well as the conditions in which he is held in custody.
The case of Álvarez Rensoler adds to other episodes of political prisoners in Cuba who have resorted to hunger strikes as a form of protest, amidst allegations of repression and human rights violations on the island.
Filed under: