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Martí Noticias: Bayamo prosecutors seek up to five years for nine protesters from May 23, 2025
The municipal prosecutor's office in Bayamo has requested prison terms of up to five years for nine people charged over the protest of May 23, 2025, according to the provisional findings seen by Martí Noticias.
Almost a year and a half after the events, the municipal prosecutor's office in Bayamo has sought prison terms of up to five years for nine citizens charged with taking part in the protest of May 23, 2025, in that city, according to the provisional findings seen by Martí Noticias. The document closes the investigative stage and opens the way to a request for trial. The charges are contempt, public disorder, incitement to commit a crime and resistance.
According to the prosecution account cited by the outlet, the gathering drew some 120 people near the junction of Vicente Quesada Avenue and 22nd Street, some with their faces covered, who banged pots, pans and other metal objects to make noise. Among the chants was "we want food, power and water". The indictment also alleges that offensive remarks were made against the president of the republic and other leaders.
The individual requests reported by Martí Noticias are five years for Pedro Luis Zamora Isac for public disorder; four years for Alexander Guzmán Silva for contempt, public disorder and incitement; and three years for Ever Ernesto Pérez Aliaga for contempt and public disorder. Also charged are Arael Rodríguez Escalante, Alejandro Vargas Ortiz, Luis Manuel Zamora Guevara, Rosa María Socarrás Moralez, Aleyda Valera Álvarez and Katia Sucel Estrada Valera, on counts including resistance and incitement.
Two relatives rejected the charges in remarks to the outlet. Ernesto Pérez Aliaga, father of Ever, said: "He did not disrespect them. He had needs and he expressed them, but politely, peacefully and calmly, and he disrespected nobody," in remarks translated by Yamacoa. Rosa Escalante, mother of Arael Rodríguez Escalante, whom prosecutors accuse of inciting against the police, said: "They are asking for years in prison for demanding basic rights from the government, like access to water, food and electricity."
One pillar of the prosecution request is a confrontation with Interior Ministry officers. According to the text cited by the outlet, after the authorities tried to talk, the protesters "disrespected them and threw bottles and stones at them, though without injuring them, which led police forces to detain those mainly responsible for the events". That is the prosecution's version; Yamacoa has not been able to verify independently what happened at the scene.
It is not the first such case in the city: another 15 Cubans were tried in September 2025 for protesting in Bayamo on March 17, 2024, against prolonged blackouts and shortages of food and basic services, according to the same outlet.
Sources: Martí Noticias · Serie Yamacoa: Protestas registradas por año (Observatorio Cubano de Conflictos (OCC))
Data updated: 2026-11-01T16:15:00.000Z