Holguín court denies habeas corpus for two 'El Cuartico' creators; preventive detention ordered

A provincial court in Holguín denied a habeas corpus petition for two independent creators identified as Ernesto Ricardo Medina and Camil Sayas Pérez, and ordered preventive detention while the prosecution pursues an investigation, Radio Martí’s program reported.

The writ had been presented by activist Yaneth Rodríguez Sánchez and accepted for review by the Ministry of Justice on Feb. 9, the program said. Guests on the broadcast reported that the tribunal declared the petition "sin lugar" and that both men will remain in custody as the fiscalía develops its case.

A caller who identified herself as Mailín Sánchez — described on air as the wife of prisoner Giovanni Rosel García — said the hearing looked like "puro teatro," reporting a heavy security presence around the court and saying the detained creators remain under investigation and in preventive detention. "Terminó en que quedan pendientes…siguen bajo investigación, en prisión preventiva," she said.

Program guests described the charges the prosecution reportedly brought: "propaganda contra el orden constitucional" and "instigación a delinquir," offenses that the broadcast said can carry sentences of up to nine years in prison. Leopoldo Luis García told listeners he had read that the provincial criminal chamber decreed preventive detention for both young men.

Guests on the program criticized judicial impartiality in Cuba and said habeas corpus petitions rarely succeed there. Vladimir Turrós characterized the hearing as orchestrated by state security and warned that visible young creators and independent journalists face intensified repression.

The broadcast did not provide court documents on air; it reported statements from family members, activists and journalists. The program did not report any immediate legal remedy granted on air and said the investigation will continue until the fiscalía presents conclusions.