Madrid/The Municipal Prosecutor’s Office of Bayamo, in Granma, requested sentences of up to five years in prison for nine citizens prosecuted for their participation in the protest of May 23, 2025 in that city, as stated in the provisional conclusions to which he had access Martí News. The document closes the investigative stage and opens the way to the request for an oral trial, with the facts classified as contempt, public disorder, instigation to commit a crime and resistance.
According to the prosecutor’s account, the events took place near the intersection of Vicente Quesada Avenue and 22nd Street, near a roundabout in the city. The report describes a gathering of about 120 people, some with their faces covered to avoid being identified, who used cauldrons and other metal objects to make noise and express their discontent.
Among the slogans could be heard “We want food, electricity and water!” The accusation maintains that “offensive” expressions were also shouted against President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other “historical leaders,” review Martí News.
One of the axes of the prosecutor’s request is the alleged altercation with the Ministry of the Interior officials who attended the scene. According to the text, after the authorities’ attempt to dialogue and process the neighbors’ concerns, the protesters “disrespected them, and threw bottles and stones at them, but without actually injuring them,” which, the court document adds, “caused the police forces to arrest those mainly responsible for the events.”
“They are asking them for years to demand basic rights from the Government such as access to water, food and electricity”
The highest penalty, five years of deprivation of liberty for public disorder, is the one requested for Pedro Luis Zamora Isac. For Alexander Guzmán Silva, the Prosecutor’s Office is asking for four years for contempt, public disorder and instigation to commit a crime; and for Ever Ernesto Pérez Aliaga, three years for contempt and public disorder.
Also accused are Arael Rodríguez Escalante, who is accused of inciting against the police through shouts and hostile expressions. The others, Alejandro Vargas Ortiz, Luis Manuel Zamora Guevara, Rosa María Socarrás Moralez, Aleyda Valera Álvarez and Katia Sucel Estrada Valera, are accused of crimes such as resistance and instigation to commit a crime.
Family members deny the charges. Ernesto Pérez Aliaga, Ever’s father, flatly denied the accusation of contempt in statements to Martí News after hearing the tax request. “He didn’t disrespect them,” he said. “Elegant, peaceful and calmly he did not lack respect for anyone.” For her part, Rosa Escalante, Arael’s mother, stated: “They are asking them for years to demand basic rights from the Government such as access to water, food and electricity.”
The protests occurred on May 23, 2025. A resident then warned Martí News: “This is going to explode again at any moment, because we are still without power.”
The case is not the first of its kind in Bayamo. 15 other Cubans They were tried in September 2025 for demonstrating on March 17, 2024 against the long blackouts and the deterioration of living conditions. In that case, the defendants were sentenced to sentences of up to six years in prison.
