The US State Department announced that it sanctioned the “important” politicians of the country because of their “participation in serious human rights violations”. Visa restrictions were also imposed for numerous Cuban judicial and prison officers who “were involved in the unjustified detention and torture by demonstrators in July 2021”.
The Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the US sanctions and explained to X that the United States was unable to “break the will of this people and its leaders”.
“While the Cuban population suffers from a lack of food, water, medication and electricity, the regime wastes money,” wrote Rubio on the fourth anniversary of protests in Cuba.
On July 11th and 12th, 2021, thousands of people took the streets in Cuba to demonstrate against the lack of basic goods and the deteriorating economic situation. The government caused the protests to hold down the protests and sentenced several hundred people to prison for up to 25 years.
According to the United States, there are still 700 people because of their participation in the protests in custody – human rights organizations estimate the number to 360 to 420. Rubio said on Friday at X that the USA demanded “an immediate release of all prisoners”.
In the spring, Cuba had declared that more than 550 political prisoners released from custody prematurely and thus fulfilled an agreement made with the former US President Joe Biden. In mid-January, the former US government had declared to delete Cuba from the US terrorist list if the island state leaves 553 prisoners arrested in the protests. Cuba then started the release of prisoners.
According to the non -governmental organizations, 192 people were released in the course of the agreement mediated by the Vatican. However, Trump undo the decision immediately after taking office and put Kuba on the terrorist list again.
During Trump’s second term, tensions between the United States and Cuba continues to increase. At the end of June, the US President signed a “memorandum” with which he would like to strengthen his policy of maximum pressure against Cuba, against which the United States imposed an economic embargo six decades ago. The US State Department said on Friday that measures to implement this policy would take.
