State Security threatens former political prisoner Andy García Lorenzo with imprisonment or the death penalty

The State Security threatened former political prisoner Andy García Lorenzo with 10 to 30 years in prison or the death penalty if he publishes images of military facilities.



Andy García LorenzoPhoto © Video capture Twitter / Saily González

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The State Security warned former political prisoner Andy García Lorenzo this Thursday that he could face a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty if he publishes images of military facilities in Cuba or shares information about them with the United States, as the opposition figure himself disclosed in statements reported by CubaNet.

García Lorenzo attended an official summons issued by the Unit for Crimes Against State Security in Villa Clara, signed by First Lieutenant Amanda Rodríguez García. There, he was interrogated by Lieutenant Colonel Abelardo Rodríguez and two other agents in civilian clothes.

The young man assured that he thought he would be questioned about the posts he regularly makes on social media regarding the crisis in Santa Clara, the blackouts, and the civic protests.

"I thought it would be because of my posts on social media, but it wasn't," he recounted.

He explained that the agents told him these were "minor issues" and that the real reason for the summons was to warn him about the consequences of disclosing images of military facilities.

"The goal was to warn me that if I published images of military units or similar ones, or provided the United States with blueprints of such facilities, I could be sanctioned with between 10 and 30 years in prison or face the death penalty," he stated.

The warning is based on Article 116 of the Cuban Penal Code, in effect since September 2022, which punishes the crime of espionage with penalties ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment or the death penalty.

As an example, the officials mentioned the case of the comedian Eddy Ceballos, creator of the Despingovery Channel, arrested in early June after publishing a video in an old military facility where Soviet missiles from the 1960s are kept. His family members claim that he could face up to 30 years in prison for alleged charges of espionage and invasion of military property.

Although García Lorenzo claimed that he has never disseminated such content, the agents attempted to have him sign a document committing to not do so. He refused.

"They then told me to sign, stating that I refused to sign. I replied that three military personnel were sufficient witnesses to my refusal and that I had nothing to do with those contents," he recounted.

During the interrogation, the officers also revealed to him that the surveillance on him increased after the visit he received earlier this year from diplomats of the United States Embassy in Havana.

"I was told that after that visit, I have another type of follow-up," he explained.

Andy García Lorenzo regained his freedom in July 2025 after serving a full four-year sentence for participating in the protests on July 11, 2021, in Santa Clara. During his time in the Guamajal prison, he reported physical and psychological torture, remained incommunicado for a month, and went on several hunger strikes.

Since his release, he has maintained an active presence on social media, denouncing the crisis that the island is experiencing. In November 2025, he publicly identified the officer who, according to his testimony, assaulted him during a hunger strike while he was in prison.

The organization Justicia 11J condemned the threats and stated that such summons against former political prisoners constitute acts of harassment and a violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and personal safety.

The NGO also warned that, since the releases in 2025, at least seven former political prisoners have returned to prison for posting critical content on social media. According to their records, around 760 political prisoners are currently imprisoned in Cuba.

Despite the warnings, García Lorenzo stated that he does not intend to abandon his activism.

"I have the duty to continue fighting for the freedom of Cuba," he affirmed.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.