Repressed and threatened for travelling abroad and preparing for human rights issues

On December 16, 2017 at 1:00 p.m., the lawyer Rigoberto Gonzalez Vigoa was summoned by telephone by the State Security officer Major Juan Pérez. He informed him that he would be required to appear on December 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Pinar del Río Police Station. If he did not appear, he would be fined for the crime of disobedience. Also, he was told to suspend a meeting to be held the next day at 9:00 am. In spite of the threats, Rigoberto held the meeting the following day where seven lawyers of the Legal Counsel of Civic Instruction participated. During the meeting, Major Juan Pérez constantly called him on the phone telling him to end the meeting. On the 18th, he appeared at the police station where Major Juan Pérez was waiting for him. Upon entering the office, he was threatened for holding the meeting the previous day and warned that he would not be allowed any more such activities. Later, he was threatened regarding his trip to Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, the officer made it very clear to him that they would not allow any more activities that talk about human rights. If he was to call another meeting, measures would be taken to stop him and punish him by imprisonment.