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January 21, 2026 – Cuba –
Henry Constantín, an independent Cuban journalist and director of the digital outlet La Hora de Cuba, was released on January 16, 2026, after spending 44 hours in detention without formal charges or explanation in Havana, according to multiple reports. His disappearance and subsequent release have drawn renewed attention to the treatment of independent media workers in Cuba amid heightened political tensions.
Constantín was detained by State Security agents on January 14 during a heavy police presence tied to the funeral of 32 Cuban soldiers killed in Venezuela, an event that authorities converted into a major security operation in Cuba’s capital. He was taken into custody without a warrant, and no official information was released about his location or legal status for nearly two days, leaving family, colleagues, and civil society organisations unaware of his whereabouts.
Upon his release, Constantín posted a video message on social media from Havana’s Malecón, in which he described his arrest as “unjustified” and akin to a forced disappearance, stressing that neither his family nor his employer knew where he had been held. During the period of detention, he was kept incommunicado and isolated, according to his account.
Constantín is recognised not only as a founder and director of La Hora de Cuba—a platform known for documenting everyday life, social issues and shortages on the island—but also as regional vice president for Cuba of the Press Freedom Committee of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), a role that has placed him at the forefront of independent journalism in a tightly controlled media environment. His detention is viewed by observers as part of a pattern of arbitrary arrests, surveillance, and legal harassment targeting critical journalists in Cuba.
In his message after being freed, Constantín affirmed his commitment to continue working in Cuba, stating that he did not intend to leave the country despite persistent repression. Supporters and media freedom defenders note that this episode, like previous detentions he has endured, highlights the precarious conditions under which independent journalists operate in Cuba and reflects the broader constraints on freedom of expression and press independence on the island.
Reference –
Cuban journalist Henry Constantín released without charge after spending 44 hours in detention
