Havana, May 26, 2022 (AFP) – At least 12 people arrested for historic demonstrations in Cuba in July 2021 have had their sentences commuted to open regime after appealing their sentences, human rights organizations reported on Thursday ( 26 ).

Political prisoners advocacy group Justicia 11J posted on Facebook, “Clarifications have been made in recent days regarding sanctions conditions for summary cases and changes in sanctions during appeals/appeal cases.” officially published.

According to the organization, which confirmed the release of 11 defendants, four of them under the age of 20 and aged between 18 and 36, who were released last week, a total of 730 people remained in prison due to the July 11 and 12 demonstrations.

In addition, the Miami (USA)-based human rights NGO Cubalex reported the release of Andy García, a young model whose family was detained at their residence and in the city of Villa Clara (centre), the target of temporary rejections. He was arrested for his actions to secure their release.

“Andy Garcia was arrested for #11J [manifestações de julho] Released. “He will stay with his family until he is transferred to an open regime institution, where he will have to serve the remainder of his sentence,” Cubalex said on his Twitter account.

According to the latest statement by this NGO, the July 2021 demonstrations ended with one death, dozens of injuries and 1,395 arrests.

But for activist Martha Beatriz Roque, these publications are “fictitious.”

“That doesn’t mean they don’t stay in prison, because they’re just as stuck in prison as they are in correctional facilities, but with the difference that correctional is an open prison,” and they can go home to sleep, Roque told AFP. .

These measures came shortly before the trial of artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo in a court in Havana on May 30 and 31.

The prosecution sought a seven-year prison sentence for 34-year-old performance artist and painter Otero Alcántara, accused of crimes committed prior to July 11, incitement to crime, aggravated contempt and disturbance of public order, according to authorities.

It also sought a 10-year prison sentence for 39-year-old rapper Osorbo, who has been arrested since May 18, 2021 and accused of bombing, disrupting public order, and collaborating in the escape of prisoners or detainees.

The rapper is one of the authors and performers of “Patria y Vida,” a Latin Grammy-winning theme that became the soundtrack of the protests.

The US embassy requested that the case be stopped today. “Do the right thing, stop the case and release him immediately,” he wrote in a tweet.

“In the 21st century, no Cuban should have to secretly listen to the music they love,” the embassy said.