Four years after their unjust convictions, HRF calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Cuban artists and prisoners of conscience Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara (@LMOAlcantara) and Maykel Castillo Pérez “Osorbo.” Their imprisonment reflects the regime’s systematic persecution of artists and critics who peacefully challenge the dictatorship.

On June 24, 2022, Otero Alcántara and Osorbo were sentenced to five and nine years in prison, respectively, on politically motivated charges including “contempt,” “public disorder,” and “insulting national symbols.” Their convictions stem from peaceful artistic expression, social media posts, and criticism of the Cuban regime. Otero Alcántara, a 2025 laureate of HRF’s Havel Prize for Creative Dissent, has spent nearly five years behind bars since his arbitrary arrest following the historic #11J protests.

Otero Alcántara continues to face serious human rights violations in prison, including prolonged incommunicado detention, threats, and the denial of parole. His health has deteriorated under inhumane conditions while prison authorities have repeatedly denied him adequate medical care. Meanwhile, Osorbo, co-author of the anthem “Patria y Vida,” has refused pressure to accept exile in exchange for his freedom, choosing instead to remain committed to the struggle for a democratic Cuba.

Their cases are emblematic of the Cuban regime’s broader crackdown on peaceful dissent. Cuba currently holds more than 1,280 political prisoners, many jailed for peacefully exercising their fundamental freedoms. As Otero Alcántara approaches the completion of his sentence next month, HRF calls for his full and unconditional release, the immediate release of Maykel Osorbo, and the freedom of all those imprisoned for defending human rights and demanding a democratic future for Cuba.