José Ramón Viñas Alonso, sovereign grand commander of the Supreme Council of Degree 33 for the Republic of Cuba, is required 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 crime of “disobedience”, according to the independent media Cubanet.
The citation was delivered this Monday by an agent of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR) to Viñas Alonso's wife at the couple's home.
The document states that the Masonic leader must present himself before “Captain Andy”, identified as the penal instructor of the Department of Crimes against State Security.
Before the appearance, Freemasons are expected to gather around the police station under the slogan “Freemasonry deserves respect.”
As a result of the citation, an announcement circulated among the brothers of the order summarizes the sentiments of that community and calls to go to the place to support him: “The Regime is attacking once 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 Centro Habana—to show support for Viñas Alonso and reject what they denounced as a direct interference by the Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) in the internal affairs of the institution.
The attempt at intervention by MINJUS
On August 7, more than a hundred Freemasons stood up in Havana to a new attempt at state intervention.
On that day, the Director of Associations of MINJUS, Miriam García Mariño, arrived 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 replacement until new elections were held.
According to a mason present who requested to remain anonymous, García Mariño was blunt: "He said he didn't have to provide explanations, that this was the decision of the tribunal and that masons must respect the laws of the country."
The response was immediate. In videos obtained by Cubanet, slogans such as "Get out!", "No more interference", and "The Masons decide on Masonic matters!" were heard.
García Mariño and his companions left angrily, while the regime deployed members of the political police in the surrounding area.
The attorney for the Supreme Council, Roberto Ortega, pointed out 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 Supreme 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 pressure and questioning.
In July 2025, the 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 Tribunal upheld that resolution through a final 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 being charged with offenses 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 Masons themselves, was removed from his duties upon reaching 80 years old in February 2025, and subsequently expelled by the High Chamber of the Rite.
In Cuba, Law 54 on Associations grants MINJUS extensive supervisory powers over all fraternal and religious organizations, requiring them to submit copies of minutes and obtain approvals for any internal reforms, under the threat of fines or closure.
Viñas Alonso has reported that State Security agents threatened him multiple times with imprisonment if he refused to resign from his position.
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