The independent journalist Henry Constantin will remain in pretrial detention in Camagüey while facing an investigation for alleged disobedience, in a process where his defense claims that they have still not been able to review the case file or file an appeal against the measure.
La Hora de Cuba reported this Monday that the habeas corpus petition in favor of its director was finally submitted on September 21, around 9:40 a.m., to the Provincial People's Tribunal of Camagüey.
The presentation of the appeal occurred after several days of efforts by the defense, which still does not have access to the case file.
According to the outlet, this situation prevents the lawyer from understanding how the charges are substantiated and from presenting the appropriate appeals.
This Monday, the legal representative first went to Villa María Luisa, where she managed to meet with the instructor identified as Juan Pablo.
The official informed him that pretrial detention had already been approved and that the file would be sent to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, located on República Street in the city of Camagüey.
The lawyer then went to the Prosecutor's Office with the intention of reviewing the case and understanding the basis of the accusation, but, according to La Hora de Cuba, she also found no officials available there who could grant her access to the file.
The defense also questions whether Constantin's absence from a summons can, by itself, support a charge of disobedience.
The outlet cited Article 72, section f) of the Criminal Procedure Law, which states that in the event of an unjustified failure to appear for a summons, a "fine of up to one hundred units may be imposed, and if it is a second summons, the person will be brought in and charged with the corresponding offense."
The Hour of Cuba states that, based on this provision, the offense of disobedience attributed to the journalist would not be justified by failure to respond to an initial summons.
However, the defense has not been able to verify what reasoning the authorities used because it still does not have the case file.
Constantin has been confined for five days, and the challenges in obtaining information about his situation have persisted almost since the beginning of his detention.
On September 17, after hiring a criminal lawyer to take on her representation, she sent a colleague to Villa María Luisa, in the Garrido neighborhood, around 2:30 p.m., to find out the status of the journalist.
Upon arrival, they informed him that the instructor Juan Pablo had already left because he resides in Nuevitas, a municipality different from the city of Camagüey.
On that same day, journalist Alejandra García, partner of Constantin, attended a previously scheduled meeting with the instructor, but she was also unable to find him.
Another officer then explained that the investigation was related to Constantin's decision not to appear at the scheduled time for a summons on September 9 at the Directorate of Identification, Immigration, and Foreign Affairs.
In light of the situation, La Hora de Cuba reiterated that judicial proceedings should take place transparently and without obstacles that hinder the exercise of fundamental rights.
The media also continues to demand the release of Henry Constantin and the cessation of what it considers a persecution against those engaging in independent journalism in Cuba.
The case also prompted a reaction from the Inter American Press Society (SIP), which condemned the detention of Constantin and reminded that the journalist serves as the regional vice president for Cuba on its Commission on Freedom of the Press and Information.
The president of the organization, Pierre Manigault, called for his release and stated: "The detention of Henry Constantín represents a new and serious episode of harassment against independent journalism in Cuba. An accusation of 'disobedience' cannot become a tool to intimidate and silence a journalist. Cuban authorities must release him and put an end to this persecution."
On her part, Martha Ramos, president of the Press Freedom and Information Commission of the SIP, stated: "The summons, detentions, surveillance, and house arrests against Constantín are part of a pattern of pressure aimed at obstructing his journalistic work. The SIP urges an immediate end to the harassment and guarantees for him to carry out his profession without reprisals."
The current process against Constantin comes after several episodes of pressure and arrests during 2026.
In July, for example, authorities summoned him and warned that he would be arrested if he traveled to Havana, amidst an operation to prevent activists and journalists from attending a reception for the United States Independence Day.
But months earlier, Constantin had reported his third arrest in just 12 days.
On that occasion, he was detained alongside Alejandra García by State Security agents and released hours later.
That episode was preceded by a second arrest in less than a week, which took place on January 20 in Camagüey, when he was intercepted in front of his daughter's house and held for approximately an hour.
Just a few days before, he had been released after being held incommunicado for 44 hours in Havana, without any information about his whereabouts during that period for family and colleagues.
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