Christian de Jesús Crespo Álvarez, a 16-year-old Cuban adolescent, has been held for over two months in the Canaleta prison - an adult facility in Ciego de Ávila - after being arrested for participating in the protests on March 13 in Morón, and his situation has alarmingly worsened.
His family members reveal that the minor is in a punishment cell and shows symptoms consistent with hepatitis, and they are not receiving any information about his health status.
According to the report received by Cubalex, the young man was transferred from Canaleta to the Provincial Instruction Unit for further statements, where he remained for approximately four days.
Upon returning to prison, his belongings had vanished, including the food that his family had brought him during their last visit.
When he reported it to the authorities, he was beaten up.
In the last communication with his family, Christian reported that he would be moved to a punishment cell.
In that call, the young man expressed that he was not feeling well, that he was very down, and that he had dark-colored urine, a symptom consistent with hepatitis. The family only learned afterward that he had been taken to the infirmary, without receiving any details about the diagnosis, evolution, or medical treatment.
"Christian exhibits physical and psychological deterioration as a consequence of the mistreatment and abuse suffered within the penitentiary, both from other inmates and prison staff," describes Cubalex.
The regime accuses him of sabotage for participating in the protests, although there is currently no formal prosecution request.
Christian was arrested on March 18, five days after the protests, after authorities identified him through videos and recordings captured during the demonstrations, including material obtained by officials from the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
Your case is not isolated. Cubalex verified that at least four teenagers were detained after the protest on March 13 in Morón: Jonathan David Muir Burgos (16 years old), Christian himself (16 years old), Kevin Samuel Echeverría Rodríguez, and Yohasnel Estrada Rodríguez (17 years old), all in conditions of extreme vulnerability and lack of judicial protection.
The organization also reports that the detained minors are being subjected to constant interrogations with the aim of forcing them to declare that they received payments to protest and to record statements of remorse.
The protests in Morón occurred in the context of a severe humanitarian crisis: power outages lasting more than 26 hours a day, extreme food shortages, and lack of fuel and water. Throughout March, more than 1,000 protests were recorded in the country, with at least 159 documented acts of repression.
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