A Cuban prisoner who was about to regain his freedom is now fighting for his life after a violent attack in prison, according to reports from his family.
Gerardo Fiol, incarcerated in the San Ramón prison in Campechuela, identified by his acquaintances as the brother of the opponent Enrique Piñeiro Azahares, was assaulted just eight days before his scheduled release. According to testimony shared on social media, another inmate struck him on the head with a blunt object, causing a serious injury.
The family claims they were not informed promptly. When his sister finally got to see him, more than 24 hours after the attack, she found him in critical condition, vomiting and struggling to speak coherently. It was only after persistent protests that the authorities agreed to transfer him to a hospital.
The medical journey, however, was marked by delays that, as they report, put their life at risk. Initially, they were taken to a center in Campechuela, then to the Celia Sánchez Manduley Hospital in Manzanillo, and finally to Bayamo, where they underwent surgery.
According to the latest information shared by his brother, Fiol remains intubated after undergoing surgery for an epidural hematoma, a direct consequence of the blow he sustained while in prison.
The situation has been marked by tension and allegations of pressure. Piñeiro Azahares stated that a prison system official warned the family that ceasing to publish about the case could "benefit" the patient, which has been interpreted as an attempt to silence the complaint.
Meanwhile, relatives have indicated difficulties in communication with the family, which increases the uncertainty regarding the inmate's health status.
Activists and individuals close to the case have also questioned the delays in medical attention and the obstacles to timely transfer to a specialized center, in a context where every minute was crucial.
The case has generated outrage among those following the situation, not only because of the severity of the assault but also due to the fact that it occurred when the prisoner was about to be released.
Meanwhile, family and friends are seeking visibility and support, holding on to the hope that Gerardo will survive what they describe as an episode marked by violence, negligence, and silence.
It is not the first time that physical attacks against individuals deprived of liberty or activists in Cuba have been reported. A precedent that generated widespread international condemnation was the attack on rapper Maykel Osorbo in August 2025, which also took place within the context of the Cuban penal system and led to demands for his freedom from the United States.
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