Wife of jailed activist Alexander Verdesia says family has had no contact since Feb. 2, demands proof of life
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Summary
Elianis Villavicencio, spouse of Alexander Verdesia, told Radio Marti the prisoner was transferred to a Camagfey facility on Feb. 4 and that the family has had no contact since Feb. 2; Verdesia was sentenced to seven years for social-media posts, the bulletin reported.
Elianis Villavicencio, who identified herself in the bulletin as the spouse of political prisoner Alexander Verdesia Rodredguez, told Radio Marti that Verdesia was moved from Las Mangas prison in Bayamo to a Camagfey facility (referred to in the broadcast as "kilo 8") on Feb. 4 and that the family has had no news from him since Feb. 2.
"Mi esposo fue trasladado el deda 4 de febrero... Quiero aclarar que no tenemos fe de vida de mi esposo desde el deda 2 de febrero," Villavicencio said in the report, demanding "fe de vida y libertad para Alexander Verdesia Rodredguez y para todos los presos poledticos." The bulletin presented her account as the familys testimony and did not include confirmation from prison authorities.
Radio Marti added contextual information that Alexander Verdesia, 51, was sentenced to seven years for "propaganda against the constitutional order" and instigation to commit crimes based on social-media posts critical of Cubas political system. The report described the transfer as occurring after Verdesias public denunciations about the treatment of political prisoners.
The bulletin did not supply an independent verification from penitentiary authorities or judicial records regarding the transfer date or the prisoner's condition. Villavicencios request for a proof-of-life statement is an active appeal by the family and underscores concerns about access to detainees and family notification procedures.
