José Ramón Viñas Alonso, sovereign grand commander of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for the Republic of Cuba, is to appear this Tuesday, August 18, at 2:00 p.m. (local time) at the police station of Infanta and Manglar in Havana, where he will be informed of charges for the alleged offense of “disobedience”, according to the independent media Cubanet.
The summons was delivered this Monday by an agent of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) to the wife of Viñas Alonso at the couple's residence.
The document states that the Mason leader must present himself to “Captain Andy”, who is identified as a penal instructor of the Department of Crimes against State Security.
Before the appearance, it is expected that the Masons will gather around the police station under the slogan “Masonry deserves respect.”
As a result of the summons, a call circulated among the brothers of the order summarizes the sentiment of that community and urges everyone to go to the place to support him: “The regime is attacking again! [...] All the brothers will be there with him, supporting him.”
The citation arrives ten days after more than a hundred Freemasons gathered at the headquarters of the Supreme Council—known as the "Scottish Cathedral" in Central Havana—to support Viñas Alonso and reject what they described as direct interference by the Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) in the internal affairs of the institution.
The attempt at intervention by the MINJUS
On August 7th, more than a hundred freemasons stood up in Havana against a new attempt at state intervention.
That day, the Director of Associations of MINJUS, Miriam García Mariño, appeared at the "Scottish Cathedral" accompanied by two officials to demand that Viñas Alonso resign from his position, claiming that the organization would appoint an interim substitute until new elections.
According to a Mason present who requested to remain anonymous, García Mariño was blunt: "He said he did not have to provide explanations, that this was the tribunal's decision and that Masons should respect the laws of the country."
The response was immediate. In videos obtained by Cubanet, slogans such as "Out!", "No more interference," and "The Masons decide matters for the Masons!" could be heard.
García Mariño and his companions left in anger as the regime deployed members of the political police in the surrounding areas.
The attorney for the Supreme Council, Roberto Ortega, indicated that there was no mandate supporting the measure.
A conflict with roots in 11J
The confrontation between the regime and the Supreme Council is not recent.
The origin dates back to July 2021, when the High Chamber of the Rite approved an open letter to Miguel Díaz-Canel condemning the "combat order" issued during the protests on July 11.
Since then, Viñas Alonso has been subjected to ongoing pressures and interrogations.
In July 2025, MINJUS issued Resolution 342/25 refusing to recognize him as the sovereign grand commander, claiming that he exceeded the nine-year limit in the position.
The Supreme People's Court confirmed that resolution through a definitive ruling.
In parallel, the regime initiated criminal proceedings against the Masonic leaders: Viñas Alonso was charged with an alleged "currency trafficking" for exchanging 100 dollars in the informal market.
The Grand Chancellor of the Supreme Council, the writer Ángel Santiesteban Prats, met the same fate in June 2026 after charges were brought against him.
The regime's candidate and the law as a tool
The MINJUS intends to place Lázaro Faustino Cuesta Valdés at the head of the Supreme Council, who according to the Freemasons themselves was removed from his duties upon turning 80 years old in February 2025, and subsequently expelled by the High Chamber of the Rite.
In Cuba, Law 54 on Associations grants the MINJUS broad supervisory powers over all fraternal and religious organizations, requiring them to submit copies of minutes and to obtain approvals for any internal reform, under the threat of fines or closure.
Viñas Alonso has reported that State Security agents threatened him several times with imprisonment if he refused to relinquish his position.
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