Former Cuban political prisoner Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta dies after condemning Putin

The community of Cuban activists and exiles is in mourning after the sudden departure of Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, a former political prisoner and emblematic figure of the fight for freedom on the Island.

The brave dissident, who challenged the Castro regime and suffered the rigors of an unjust conviction, died this Saturday in Syracuse, New York, due to a massive heart attack.

News of his death caused a deep shock among his relatives and followers, who just a day before, saw him condemn Russian ruler Vladimir Putin for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

In a video published on his social networks, Herrera Acosta issued a warning to the world about Putin, advising that his rise was the emergence of “a new Stalin and a new Hitler.”

The Cuban activist, whose fight for freedom of expression led him to be sentenced to 20 years in prison during the well-known Black Spring of 2003, suffered the rigors of a regime of maximum severity during the seven years and seven months that he was imprisoned.

At that time, he suffered the loss of his only daughter in a tragic traffic accident, a blow from which he never fully recovered.

Despite the adversities, Herrera Acosta maintained his unbreakable spirit, carrying out hunger strikes and other protest actions to demand respect for his rights.

His release, managed in 2010 by the government of Spain, the Catholic Church, and the government of Raúl Castro, allowed him to reunite with his family in Madrid, although his joy was overshadowed by the pain of leaving behind so many companions still in prison.

“I consider myself still in prison because there are still many colleagues in Cuban prisons,” said the then recently released prisoner in an interview with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

After passing through Spain, Herrera Acosta settled in the United States in 2011, where he continued his tireless activism for the cause of freedom in Cuba. His departure has left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew him and admired his bravery.

“Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta was more than a name on the list of the 75 prisoners of conscience in Cuba; he was a symbol of resistance, dignity, and hope. Through his firmness and courage, he inspired many to raise their voices against oppression and injustice,” said journalist Normando Hernández, also convicted in the Black Spring.