Cuban Journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea Sentenced to Six Years for Protest Participation

January 16, 2026 – Cuba – 

Independent Cuban journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea, a contributor to the online outlet 14ymedio, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a provincial court in Villa Clara, Cuba, following a conviction on charges of “public disorder” related to his role in a peaceful protest during a nationwide power outage in November 2024. The ruling, delivered on January 15, 2026, upholds the sentence originally sought by the prosecution and marks a significant escalation in the government’s treatment of dissenting voices amid ongoing civil and economic pressures on the island.

Barrenechea’s prosecution stems from his presence and active participation in demonstrations in Encrucijada, where residents rallied against prolonged blackouts that had affected multiple provinces. According to the court’s decision, Barrenechea not only took part in the protest but also encouraged others to continue demanding the restoration of electricity—actions authorities characterised as disturbing public order. The conviction places him among several others sentenced in the same case; co-defendants received penalties ranging from three to eight years for their involvement in the protest.

The court’s decision also included ancillary penalties typical in Cuban criminal cases, such as loss of voting rights and restrictions on international travel. Barrenechea has already spent more than a year in pretrial detention, and his lawyers may seek an appeal before Cuba’s Supreme Court.

Human rights organisations have criticised the conviction as part of a broader pattern of punitive measures against peaceful dissent and independent journalism in Cuba. Observers note that the island’s entrenched crackdown on public protest and critical voices often conflates nonviolent civic action with criminal conduct, effectively deterring civic engagement and independent reporting. Critics argue that the charge of public disorder, as applied in this case, reflects political motivations rather than genuine threats to public safety.

Barrenechea’s sentence occurs against a backdrop of persistent power shortages and socio-economic strain across Cuba, where energy crises have become frequent and public frustration has mounted. Independent journalists and civil society actors have repeatedly warned that the criminalisation of protest and dissent undermines fundamental rights while deepening the island’s climate of repression.

Reference – 

https://havanatimes.org/news/cuban-journalist-sentenced-to-6-years-in-prison-for-protesting/

A Cuban Court Confirms a Six-Year Prison Sentence for José Gabriel Barrenechea for Protesting During a Power Cut