This past Saturday, two more Cuban inmates lost their lives at Boniato Prison in Santiago de Cuba, pushing the death toll at the facility to eight since the beginning of 2025, as reported by the non-governmental organization Cubalex. The deaths of Giovanis Ferrer Verdecia, aged 46, and Israel Cabrera both occurred on March 1 under what were described as "inhumane conditions," according to a statement from the human rights and legal advisory NGO.
Ferrer, known by the nickname "El Menor," hailed from Ramón de Guaninao in Palma Soriano municipality and was held in Detachment No. 16. His death was attributed to tuberculosis and kidney failure. Prior to his passing, he had been hospitalized for several days and was laid to rest on Sunday.
Cabrera was part of Detachment No. 2, which houses inmates suffering from undernutrition. Cubalex reported that the precise circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown. The organization highlighted issues such as overcrowding, neglect, lack of medical care, malnutrition, and unsanitary conditions as ongoing threats to the lives of prisoners, which also promote the spread of deadly diseases.
The NGO insisted that the deaths of individuals in the custody of the Cuban state "must not be normalized or go unpunished," stressing the need for justice, transparency, and safeguards for the protection of those deprived of their liberty. Cubalex extended condolences to the families and friends of the deceased prisoners.
Earlier in February, the organization had reported the deaths of inmates Giovanis Ortega and Irai Nieto, which allegedly resulted from severe malnutrition and neglect in the same Detachment No. 2 at Boniato Prison, infamously referred to as the "low-weight floor," where prisoners endure extreme starvation and lack of medical attention.
In the following weeks, Osbety Girón, a 51-year-old inmate from Detachment No. 13, succumbed to tuberculosis after days of hospitalization. As a precaution against the spread of the disease among the prison population, the detachment was placed under quarantine.
Furthermore, deaths of prisoners have been reported in other Cuban prisons in recent months. The passing of political prisoner Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez, aged 44, on February 11 at the El Guatao Forced Labor Camp in Havana, drew significant attention. Independent family and organization reports indicated that the mother of two had been suffering health issues for months without receiving necessary medical attention.
The death of Yankiel Justiz Despaigne, 36, from tuberculosis on January 30 at Melena del Sur Prison in Mayabeque was also noted. In the same province, the death of inmate Yosvany Sánchez in December 2024 at Quivicán Prison was attributed to health complications exacerbated by inadequate medical care.
A Cubalex report documented that between January 2022 and January 2024, 56 individuals died while in the custody of Cuban authorities: 36 inmates serving sentences, nine detainees at police stations, and 11 recruits during mandatory military service.
FAQs on Prisoner Deaths in Cuba
What are the main causes of death for inmates in Cuban prisons?
Inmates have died primarily due to conditions like tuberculosis, malnutrition, and lack of medical care, exacerbated by inhumane living conditions and neglect.
How many prisoners have died in Boniato Prison since 2025?
Eight prisoners have died in Boniato Prison since the start of 2025, according to reports from the NGO Cubalex.
What actions does Cubalex recommend to address these issues?
Cubalex calls for justice, transparency, and the implementation of protective measures for detainees, stressing that deaths under state custody should not be normalized or go unpunished.