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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Veronica Mayer
Monday, June 7, 2021 (703) 566-3037

CUBA STATE SECURITY CONTINUES TO HARASS

INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST YOE SUÁREZ
Alexandria, Virginia – On Saturday, June 5, Cuban journalist Yoe Suá rez was summoned to
the Siboney Station in Havana for questioning by Cuban State Security. Less then two months ago,
Precautionary Measures requested by the Global Liberty Alliance for Mr. Suá rez and his family were
granted by the OAS’s Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) following increased
threats and harassment by Communist Party officials..
Following the questioning, Mr. Suá rez reported he was asked to account for specific
activities he had been involved in over the past months including: participation in a public prayer
for Luis Manuel Otero Alcá ntara, a Cuban artist who was on hunger strike, attendance at a film
premier, meeting with European diplomats on International Press Day, and the publication of an
investigative report by Suá rez on use of torture against activists in Cuba. During the interrogation,
Cuban State Security also warned Mr. Suá rez of potential escalation of repressive measures against
him, and he was even told by Cuban authorities, “think about your family, who will suffer the
consequences.”
GLA’s on-island legal counsel for Mr. Suá rez noted that though there are international
protections in place for the journalist and his family, the Cuban Constitution overrules international
treaties in Article 8. Mr. Suá rez was told by Cuban authorities that everything possible will be done
to make sure he does not leap from the digital platform to the public sphere.
In the decision issued by the IACHR earlier this year, they explicitly request that Cuba
“adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Mr. Yoel Suá rez
Ferná ndez and his family nucleus.” The IACHR also requested Cuba to “adopt the necessary
measures so that Mr. Yoel Suá rez Ferná ndez can develop his activities as an independent journalist
without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation, harassment and arrests in the exercise of
their work. This includes the adoption of measures so that [he] can exercise [his] freedom of
expression.”
“Communist Party officials blatantly disregard the fundamental rights of Mr. Suá rez and his
young family, and will sooner or later be held to account,” said Jason Poblete, President, Global
Liberty Alliance. “GLA and other defenders of fundamental rights will continue to support Mr.
Suá rez and his family who have opted to stay in Cuba and give voice to the voiceless and for
freedom in homeland,” Poblete added.

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A part of The Global Rule of Law & Liberty Legal Defense Fund
globallibertyalliance.org
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