On February 25, independent journalist Georbanelis Betancourt López was working for Huellas de Cuba in the Ho Chi Ming neighborhood. A State Security officer named Víctor appeared on the scene with patrol car 601, snatched a backpack containing a video camera and a microphone, and forced him into the patrol car. He was taken to the Parque 24 Police Unit, where he was taken directly to the cells, without any paperwork. When he was taken out of the cell, at around 7:00 pm, Victor threatened him that if he was seen on the streets again with a camera, usurping public functions, he would beat him up and fine him 3,000 CUP (11.5 €) in accordance with Decree 370. Upon his release he was not given back his backpack or any of the equipment inside it.
Rights Abused
- Civil and Political Rights
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Personal freedom
Freedom of opinion and expression
Right to seek, receive and impart information
Right not to be arbitrarily detained
Right to be informed of the reasons for one's detention, at the moment of detention, and to be noticed, without delay, of the accusations
- Perpetrator
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Police
State security agents
TPAI/6
