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Christian de Jesús Crespo Álvarez, a 16-year-old Cuban adolescent, has been detained for over two months in 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 reveals that the minor is in a punishment cell and shows symptoms consistent with hepatitis, and they are not receiving 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 questioning, where he remained for approximately four days.
Upon returning to the prison, his belongings had disappeared, including the food that his family had brought him during their last visit.
When he reported to the authorities, he was beaten up.
In his last communication with his family, Christian reported that he would be moved to a punishment cell.
During 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 later that he had been taken to the infirmary, without receiving any details about the diagnosis, progression, or medical treatment.
"Christian shows physical and psychological deterioration as a result of the mistreatment and abuses suffered within the prison, both from other inmates and prison staff," describes Cubalex.
The regime accuses him of the crime of sabotage for participating in the protests, although there is currently no formal prosecutor's request.
Christian was arrested on March 18, five days after the demonstrations, after authorities identified him through videos and recordings captured during the protests, including material obtained by officials from the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
Your case is not isolated. Cubalex verified that at least four adolescents were detained following the protest on March 13 in Morón: Jonathan David Muir Burgos (16 years old), Christian (16 years old), Kevin Samuel Echeverría Rodríguez, and Yohasnel Estrada Rodríguez (17 years old), all in conditions of extreme vulnerability and lacking judicial protection.
The organization also reports that the detained minors are being subjected to constant interrogations with the aim of forcing them to confess that they were paid to protest and to record statements of remorse.
The protests in Morón occurred in the context of an acute humanitarian crisis: blackouts lasting more than 26 hours daily, extreme food shortages, and a lack of fuel and water. Throughout March, over 1,000 protests were recorded in the country, with at least 159 documented acts of repression.
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