Human rights activist and lawyer was arbitrarily detained, threatened and blackmailed

Around 6 p.m., the human rights activist and lawyer from the Corriente Agramontista, Widhner Jordani Ballester Cortez was detained at home by secret police officer Lieutenant Alberto Pérez Góngora. Widhner was taken to the police station in Sagua de Tánamo, where he was threatened, insulted and blackmailed by officer Alberto and captain known as Oliuski. They tried to convince Widhner to leave the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) so they suggested that he should call to the headquarters of the UNPACU and announce he is leaving. Widhner refused to make the phone call and leave the organization. Alberto Perez and National Revolutionary Police officer known as Silva completely searched him in order to assure that he did not have any recording device that could be used to record their conversation. After two hours of psychological pressure at the office of the State Security, Widhner was released. At that time, Julia Cortez Jardinez, Widhner's mother, collapsed as her blood pressure suddenly increased. She had to be transferred to the nearest hospital where doctors reported her state as serious. The officers violated Articles 5, 9 and 12, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 58 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba.