The Cuban State Security imposed a new precautionary measure on José Ramón Viñas Alonso this Tuesday, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Degree 33 for the Republic of Cuba, after subjecting him to an interrogation for an alleged offense of "disobedience," according to a video released by CubaNet in which the Masonic leader himself recounts what happened.
The measure requires Viñas Alonso to appear every Wednesday at two in the afternoon to sign before the authorities, in addition to imposing movement restrictions and a prohibition on leaving the country. “They have just imposed a [protective measure] on me. I can't leave my house, the same applies to my mobility,” the Masonic leader stated after leaving the police station.
The interrogation was conducted by a criminal instructor from the Department of Crimes against State Security, which led Viñas Alonso to openly question the logic of state intervention: "We do not understand how an administrative dispute between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Council has turned into a matter of State Security."
The Masonic leader attributed this interest to the historical weight of the institution: "The only idea I could have is the prestige, the appeal, the history that Freemasonry holds. There should always be a concern regarding the Masonic institution."
This episode is the most recent in a series of escalating pressures that began at least in July 2021, when Viñas Alonso was summoned for the first time by State Security after signing a letter criticizing Miguel Díaz-Canel and the repression following the protests on July 11th.
Since then, the conflict between the Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) and the Supreme Masonic Council has continued to escalate. In May 2025, MINJUS attempted to impose Lázaro Faustino Cuesta Valdés as interim leader in place of Viñas Alonso, threatening to withdraw official recognition from the organization and freeze its funds.
On July 30, 2025, the regime initiated criminal proceedings against Viñas Alonso and Grand Master Juan Alberto Kessel Linares, and days later, State Security interrogated him for an alleged currency trafficking offense. On August 7, 2026, Cuban Masons gathered in Havana to support their leader against a new attempt at intervention by MINJUS.
Viñas Alonso argues that, although the People's Supreme Court issued a ruling that the government uses to deny him his position, his Masonic brothers do recognize him fraternally. "Legally, I am not one for you, and we accept that to avoid defiance. But fraternally, my brothers recognize me as such," he stated.
Regarding the future of leadership, the Masonic leader announced that the decision about his continuation does not rest with him or the State. "In September, the High Chamber will evaluate, as it is the one in front of the Supreme, whether to hold elections or not," he explained, emphasizing that "all decisions made by the Supreme Council are by vote."
Cuban Freemasonry comprises tens of thousands of members and has historically been one of the few civil organizations with some degree of autonomy from the State. This, according to Viñas Alonso himself, would explain the regime's efforts to control it.
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