Cuba's Provincial Court of Villa Clara has sentenced independent journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea to six years in prison for joining a peaceful protest against blackouts in November 2024. Five other participants received terms ranging from three to eight years for public disorder. The ruling, dated January 15, 2026, singles out Barrenechea for encouraging others to join the demonstration.
On November 7, 2024, around 300 people gathered in Encrucijada, Villa Clara province, in front of the local Communist Party headquarters and Municipal Assembly of People's Power to demand electricity amid widespread blackouts. The court ruling attributes these outages to the economic situation, the U.S. blockade, and damage from Hurricane Rafael.
Independent journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea, a contributor to 14ymedio, received a six-year sentence for public disorder, along with Yandri Torres Quintana (eight years), Rafael Javier Camacho Herrera (seven years), Rodel Bárbaro Rodríguez Espinosa and Marcos Daniel Díaz Rodríguez (five years each), and Yuniesky Lorences Domínguez (three years). The court detailed how the defendants banged pots and metal objects, blocking traffic and disrupting the town's peace. Barrenechea was specifically noted for urging the crowd to stay and keep demanding their rights.
The ruling imposes additional penalties, including loss of voting rights and a ban on leaving the country. Barrenechea has already spent one year and two months in pretrial detention under harsh conditions, including isolation that impacted his health. He endured the death of his mother from cancer in May 2025 without a farewell.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights labeled the case 'political from start to finish,' while Amnesty International researcher Johanna Cilano stated: 'Protest is a right. No one should be imprisoned simply for exercising their human rights.' Prisoners Defenders reported 1,197 political prisoners in Cuba by the end of 2025.
The sentence is not final and can be appealed to the Supreme Court, though relatives have not outlined next steps.
