Jose Gabriel Barrenchea Chavez

José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez, a Cuban journalist and literary writer, has been detained since November 8, 2024, after participating in protests in Villa Clara, where he was accused of leading a demonstration and charged with “public disorder.” On January 15, 2026, he was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison. He is currently held in La Pendiente prison, where reports indicate deteriorating health and poor conditions. His detention follows years of harassment, including restrictions on his work, travel bans, and censorship of his writing.