Amnesty International once again drew attention to the political prisoner Roberto Pérez Fonseca, one of the protesters from July 11, 2021, who remains imprisoned in Cuba.
In a post shared on X, under the hashtag #CubaSinRepresión, the organization described him as "a Cuban activist, human rights defender, and prisoner of conscience."
Pérez Fonseca has been imprisoned since July 2021, serving a 10-year sentence. His case has been the subject of complaints from family members and human rights organizations regarding the conditions of his confinement and the deterioration of his health.
The activist participated in the 11J protests in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, where he was recorded breaking a statue of Fidel Castro. Five days later, on July 16, he was arrested during a police operation carried out at his home.
In October of that year, the Municipal Court of San José de las Lajas sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment. The prosecution had requested 12 years for the offenses of assault, disrespect, incitement to commit crimes, and public disorder. His family questioned the judicial process and reported irregularities in the presentation of evidence and testimonies.
His mother, Lisset Fonseca, and his brother, Alberto Ortega Fonseca, known as Albert Fonse, have publicly demanded his release. Family reports have also documented disciplinary punishments and difficulties in communicating with him.
In October 2022, the prison authorities had suspended phone calls while he was in a punishment cell. His brother then reported that those communications, lasting just a few minutes each week, were his main contact with his mother and son.
Amnesty International formally recognized him as a prisoner of conscience on October 23, 2024, along with other imprisoned activists.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in 2023 that his imprisonment was arbitrary and requested his release, a statement later reported by Amnesty International.
Concerns about his physical condition intensified again last August. Cubalex warned of episodes of fever, respiratory difficulties, and fatigue in the Quivicán prison, in Mayabeque. According to his family, Pérez Fonseca suffers from asthma, chronic lung diseases, and digestive issues that require specialized medical attention.
On October 15, Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action regarding his situation. It gathered reports of repeated isolation, restrictions on family contact, and inadequate medical assistance. The organization warned that the prisoner remained exposed to ongoing abuse.
Eight days later, marking two years since their designation as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty reiterated in a statement its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Pérez Fonseca, Félix Navarro, and Sayli Navarro. Its Director for the Americas, Ana Piquer, denounced the harsh conditions of incarceration they face.
The organization also requested that, while they remain in prison, the Cuban authorities ensure adequate healthcare, unobstructed family communication, and detention conditions that respect their rights.
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