Inmates Leinier Ramos Martell and Carlos Luis Castro Rodríguez were transferred from Canaleta Provincial Prison in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, to a penitentiary in Matanzas province on February 22, 2026, during the reporting window from 1:45 AM to 2:45 AM UTC, as retaliation for participating in recent protests, according to relatives' denunciations posted by @echezabaljd71 on X. Wives of the inmates reported receiving direct confirmation from prison authorities, including prison head Noel Morales López and provincial prisons director Carlos Martínez Rodríguez, who stated the transfers were due to the inmates having "stirred up the situation" during the demonstrations. The protests were suppressed by Ministry of the Interior (MININT) forces, per relatives and sources close to the inmates, though no official information on injuries or current conditions has been released. Independent organizations and families expressed concern over the transfers as potential disciplinary measures to isolate inmates and restrict family contact. Cuban authorities have issued no public statements on the matter as of the close of the X post.
