Madrid/The United States has approved the parole requested by Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara so that it can enter its territory. This was announced this Friday by the relatives of the artist and political prisoner, whose whereabouts have been unknown for ten days. through networks in your name. The publication specifies that the news comes “after several weeks of constant efforts.”
“Since the beginning of 2023, Luis accepted exile as the only way to continue his work as an artist and activist, after having endured all the repression that has fallen on him,” indicates the post from his friends, who reaffirm that release only occurs in exchange for exile: “State Security has left him no other option to be released from prison.”
A US official told 14ymediounder anonymity, that with the confinement of Otero Alcántara after completing his sentence and waiting for a parole To travel to the United States, the Havana regime intended to “put the ball in Washington’s court and make it believe that the artist was still detained due to the delay of the Trump administration.”
On July 7, those close to Otero Alcántara reported that the artist had been taken from the Guanajay maximum security prisonin the province of Artemisa, where he was serving a sentence with two days remaining. Days later, the artist contacted Anamely Ramos.
“As soon as we have any other clear information about his possible departure from Cuba, we will let you know in this way”
According to what the activist and art historian herself published on her networks, Alcántara called her “from a State Security cell phone, unknown number, and the call was on speakerphone.” When asked how he was doing, the artist responded “good,” says Ramos, “with that tone we use to indicate that we are as good as possible, given the circumstances.” He could not answer the second question asked: “where are you?”
The activist then explained that the parole request for Alcántara to travel to the United States was still “in process” and that the artist would be “in that unknown place until it is resolved.”
He post today recalls: “Luis should have been free since last July 9, when his unjust 5-year sentence expired, and he is still in the hands of the political police, in a whereabouts that we cannot specify.” And he adds, suggesting the possibility of a soon trip to the United States: “As soon as we have any other clear information about his possible departure from Cuba, we will let you know in this way.”
Otero Alcántara was arrested on July 11, 2021, when he tried to join the anti-government protests that broke out that day in numerous Cuban cities. In 2022, he was sentenced to five years in prison for the crimes of insulting national symbols, contempt and public disorder, among other charges. His case, along with that of rapper Maykel Castillo Osorbobecame one of the emblems of the repression after 9/11.
Specifically, Castillo, three days after the release of Otero Alcántara, was transferred to the Guanajay prison from Kilo 8, in Pinar del Ríowhere he was serving his sentence, in his case nine years.
