Yindra Elizastigui Jardines, mother of political prisoner Luis Robles, has accused a Cuban police officer of allegedly abusing her other son, Lester Fernández Elizastigui, during a birthday party in Havana.
"This post is to report the mistreatment of my son Lester Fernández Elizastigui by the police officer named Yusdel Posada Cutiño, who is stationed at the Dragones Police Station," Yindra wrote on her Facebook profile.
According to Yindra, the officer arrived at a birthday party where her son was present on Saturday, July 20, "and without any manners, ordered the music to be turned off. Despite complying with the order, he used force against my son and assaulted him."
In her post, the mother noted that her son reacted to the alleged aggression by the police, which resulted in his arrest. "Today, my son's whereabouts are unknown," she expressed.
Yindra stated that she was using her message to accuse the implicated police officer for anything that might happen to her son.
Reports of police abuse in Cuba have become frequent on social media, especially involving dissidents or their families, or political prisoners who raise their voices.
In June, Cuban academic Alina Bárbara López Hernández was violently detained by the police while traveling from Matanzas to Havana.
The professor was released later that day, and her daughter, who remained active on Facebook publicizing the case, stated that her mother, along with Jenny Pantoja Torres, had to go to the hospital to be examined for injuries sustained from the Cuban police.
In July 2022, Yindra Elizastigui herself broke the silence on social media to denounce the mistreatment of her son Luis Robles in prison.
In mid-January 2023, she also reported that her son Lester had been detained and was in prison for an alleged attempt to illegally leave the country. Lester was arrested on December 19 while with a group of people building a boat in Havana and was held at the Valle Grande Penitentiary Center.
At that time, the mother claimed that the mistreatment her son received was because he is the brother of Luis Robles.
Frequently Asked Questions about Police Brutality in Cuba
Given the increasing reports of police abuse in Cuba, here are some commonly asked questions and their answers to provide more context.
What are the common reports of police brutality in Cuba?
Common reports include physical assaults, arbitrary detentions, and abuse of power, particularly targeting dissidents and their families.
Who was Yindra Elizastigui Jardines' son assaulted by?
Her son, Lester Fernández Elizastigui, was reportedly assaulted by a police officer named Yusdel Posada Cutiño.
Why was Lester Fernández Elizastigui detained?
Lester was detained allegedly for reacting to police aggression and also for a supposed attempt to illegally leave the country.