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PoliticsCuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara released, arrives in US; Rubio calls for freeing over 700 political prisoners
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Cuban government-critical artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, 38, has arrived in the United States after serving a five-year prison sentence in Cuba. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed his arrival in Miami on July 18, 2026, and called for the immediate release of over 700 political prisoners in Cuba. Otero Alcántara, a leader of the San Isidro artist collective, was arrested on July 11, 2021, while attempting to join anti-government protests. He was convicted for insulting national symbols and disturbing public order. His release was conditional on permanently leaving Cuba. From Miami, he plans to continue making art and developing visions for Cuba's freedom, while noting that hundreds of political prisoners remain in his homeland.
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The critical artist was one of hundreds of political prisoners in communist Cuba. From Miami, he wants to continue making art.
Published: July 19, 2026, 10:08 AM
Miami – After serving a multi-year prison sentence, Cuban government-critical artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has traveled to the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed his arrival in the country on Saturday (local time). At the same time, Rubio demanded the "immediate release of the more than 700 unjustly imprisoned political prisoners" in the communist-led Caribbean state.
According to his Facebook page, Otero Alcántara wants to "continue developing visions for Cuba's freedom" in the USA.
Otero Alcántara arrived in Miami, Florida, as shown in a video taken at the airport and provided to AFP by activist Anamely Ramos. The 38-year-old had been "finally released after five years of unjust imprisonment," it was previously stated on the artist's Facebook page, which is run by friends. He had received a visa for entry into the United States.
US Secretary of State Rubio stated that the international community must stop "ignoring the human rights violations of the Cuban regime."
"Otero Alcántara's only 'crime' was refusing to remain silent and using his art to demand the fundamental freedoms that have been denied to Cubans for nearly seven decades," he said.
Rubio described the artist's protest movement as a "beacon of hope."
'Continue Developing Visions for Cuba's Freedom'
Otero Alcántara had led demonstrations in 2020 by the San Isidro (MSI) artist collective, which advocated for free speech and other rights in Cuba. The dissident was arrested on July 11, 2021, while trying to join government-critical mass protests. He was later sentenced to five years in prison for insulting the symbols of the fatherland and disturbing public order in connection with an earlier performance.
According to his Facebook page, he was incarcerated in a high-security prison. A condition for his release was that he leave Cuba forever. The Cuban government accuses the artist of attempting to destabilize the communist-ruled island nation on behalf of the USA.
Otero Alcántara now wants to continue his work as an artist and "regain the time that was stolen from him," it said on his Facebook page. He also wants to "continue developing visions for Cuba's freedom." He has not forgotten that "hundreds of political prisoners" remain in his homeland.
Photo: Received with jubilation: Critical artist Otero Alcántara arrives in Miami on Saturday. Credit: David Santiago / AP
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Cuban Dissident Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara Released, Arrives in USA After Five Years in Prison