On Friday, the U.S. government announced visa restrictions against Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel and several other high-ranking officials due to human rights violations, coinciding with the anniversary of significant protests on the island.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on the social platform X that the State Department would impose these restrictions on Cuban judicial and prison officials for their roles in the unjust detention and torture of protesters during the events of July 2021.
The protests, which were not spearheaded by opposition groups, erupted on July 11 and 12, 2021, highlighting the severe economic crisis facing Cuba.
Rubio emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to supporting the human rights of the Cuban people, indicating that oppressive regimes have no place in the region.
The U.S. stance toward the Cuban government varies significantly, with the Trump administration taking a more stringent approach compared to current policies under Biden.
In addition to Diaz-Canel, U.S. actions have targeted Defense Minister Alvaro López Miera and Interior Minister Lazaro Alvarez Casas.
In response, Johanna Tablada, a deputy director in Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, labeled Rubio as an advocate for “genocide, prisons, and massive deportation.”
These notable protests in 2021 followed a series of blackouts across Havana and other cities, with one fatality reported and numerous instances of vandalism amidst the unrest.
Authorities, supported by government-aligned groups, worked to quell the demonstrations. Human rights organizations estimate over 1,000 individuals were arrested, although the government did not release official statistics.
At that time, the Cuban government attributed the uproar to U.S. media influence and longstanding sanctions imposed by the United States.
In 2022, Cuban prosecutors reported that around 790 individuals faced investigations related to the protests, with charges ranging from disorderly conduct to vandalism.
The advocacy group 11J, which references the date of the protests, revealed that 554 people were sentenced for their involvement but were later conditionally released in January after an appeal made by Pope Francis.
