The Cuban doctor and activist Lucio Enríquez Nodarse delivered a direct message to the Spanish Ana Hurtado Martínez after learning of the new sentence imposed against her by the Provincial Court of Albacete: "Ana Hurtado, I told you once that you picked a fight with the wrong person and that I would take this all the way to the end, and that is how it will be."
The ruling in the second instance, released this October following a process that lasted approximately two years, convicted Hurtado of defamation and slander and established a compensation of 10,000 euros for moral damages in favor of the Cuban doctor, in addition to the payment of legal costs. The verdict is not final and can be appealed.
Enríquez Nodarse emphasized that the victory holds primarily symbolic value. "What matters here is the symbolism, which is the condemnation of Ana Hurtado. For me, it's a victory that we have condemned the Cuban dictatorship," he stated in an interview with journalist Tania Costa for CiberCuba.
The activist recalled that Hurtado not only attacked him but also defamed political prisoners and their families. "I remember how he defamed many political prisoners, and the mothers of those prisoners watched how he spoke to Wilber, for example, as well as to his little boy who is imprisoned," he noted, referring to Walnier Luis Aguilar Rivera, who was incarcerated following the protests on July 11, 2021.
The lawsuit originated when Hurtado posted on social media expressions such as "little doctor trafficker," "criminal," and "terrorist" against the physician, allegedly following a protest he held alongside activist Avana de la Torre in front of Ángel Castro's birthplace in Láncara, Galicia. The court deemed Hurtado's expressions an unlawful violation of the right to honor.
Enríquez Nodarse also warned that the process is not over. "It will continue until the end, Ana Hurtado," he reiterated, clarifying that he will proceed even if the convicted individual appeals to the Supreme Court. Her lawyer deemed it likely that the appeal would not be admitted, although Hurtado has 20 business days to attempt it. It is worth noting that the Spanish national declared herself insolvent before the court and requested free legal assistance in the second instance, despite already being obligated to pay the 10,000 euros since the initial ruling in the first instance.
Upon receiving congratulations from those who reached out to him after the verdict was announced, the doctor was clear about the collective significance of the victory: "This is mine and yours."
The connection between Ana Hurtado and the upper echelons of the Cuban regime reinforces, according to Enríquez Nodarse, the symbolic nature of the sentence: Hurtado has been photographed with Miguel Díaz-Canel and leaders of the Communist Party of Cuba, and maintains a relationship with Senén Casas Más, identified as the son of the late General Senén Casas Regueiro, former Chief of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The activist also urged other Cuban exiles to seek justice in their countries of residence in response to smear campaigns organized by defenders of the regime, and he anticipated that when the transition in Cuba occurs, individuals like Hurtado will be held accountable in court. "Yes, I have no doubt about it," he stated when asked about this possibility.
Regarding the future of Cuba, Enríquez Nodarse was unequivocal: "I never lose faith. Always with the hope that one day our people will be free from dictatorship. For sure, because we want a free and democratic nation."
Filed under: