The Cuban activist Yoel Alejandro Pérez Serrano, a resident of the town of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba, was summoned on Tuesday by Cuban authorities, according to a report shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on social media.
The summons occurs just one day before the official ceremonies for July 26 planned in that locality and eight days after Pérez Serrano staged a public protest that had widespread impact on social media.
In that action, the activist appeared barefoot and in underwear, holding a white sheet with the words "FREEDOM," "DEMOCRACY," "JUSTICE," and "DIGNITY" written in red. The protest, documented by Mayeta Labrada under the title "The Sheet of Dignity in El Cobre," enhanced her visibility as one of the most recognized opposition voices in the area.
This is not the first time Pérez Serrano has publicly challenged the regime. In November 2025, he gained notoriety by directly addressing Miguel Díaz-Canel during the leader's visit to El Cobre to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.
In that exchange, which went viral both inside and outside Cuba, the activist denounced the neglect of the victims from the community of Guamuta, where, he claimed, 90% of the population had lost their belongings following the cyclone. "They left us alone," he demanded at the time.
During that same visit, Díaz-Canel responded to a neighbor who explained that she had lost her bed: "I also don't have one to give you right now," a phrase that also sparked numerous reactions on social media.
After that incident, Pérez Serrano's phone went unanswered for two days, which raised concern among family members and neighbors.
The new citation occurs in a context of surveillance and intimidation against activists and opponents during politically sensitive dates for the regime. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) documented 1,949 repressive actions during the first half of 2026, including 257 arbitrary arrests and 488 illegal detentions.
For its part, the organization Prisoners Defenders has described this type of action as a strategy of "exemplary repression," aimed at preventing protests from occurring before they happen.
Although the national central event for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks will take place this July 26 in Pinar del Río, official events are also planned in locations such as El Cobre to commemorate the anniversary.
In addition to his activism, Pérez Serrano is the author of the testimonial book "La dictadura bajo las sombras del miedo," available on Amazon. In this work, he shares his experience in Cuba, which he describes as "an act of survival and a legacy so that his truth continues to speak for him in case he faces reprisals."
In disseminating the complaint, Mayeta Labrada urged the international community and human rights organizations to remain vigilant regarding the situation of the activist. "If this new summons is confirmed, concerns grow about a possible act of intimidation against a citizen who has publicly and peacefully exercised his right to express his opinions," she noted.
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