Independent Cuban Journalist Henry Constantin Disappears Amid Heavy Security Operation

Independent Cuban journalist Henry Constantin, director of the digital outlet La Hora de Cuba and a vocal critic of government repression, went missing in Havana on January 14, 2026, following a large-scale security operation involving Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and State Security. The disappearance sparked widespread concern among colleagues, civil society groups, and journalism advocates over his safety and the circumstances of his sudden disappearance.

According to an urgent statement posted by La Hora de Cuba, Constantin’s last known communication with his team occurred around 6:50 p.m. on January 14, while he was at his home in the capital. Early the next morning, fellow reporters who went to check on him found his home’s gate and door open with no sign of him inside, and his mobile phone either powered off or out of range. Outside the building, at least one State Security agent was reportedly stationed, intensifying fears that the authorities were directly involved in his disappearance.

The security operation that coincided with Constantin’s disappearance was connected to the arrival and funeral of Cuban military personnel killed in Venezuela, which had prompted significant troop deployments and mobility restrictions across key avenues in Havana. The heightened political atmosphere has been tied by observers to increased monitoring and reprisals against independent journalists and activists.

Colleagues and press freedom defenders swiftly held the Cuban government responsible for Constantin’s physical safety, pressing for immediate information on his whereabouts. Social media posts and reports from human rights monitoring groups characterised his disappearance as a case of enforced disappearance or arbitrary detention, reflecting a pattern of state repression against dissenting voices on the island.

Constantin, known for his critical reporting on social and political conditions in Cuba and his role in defending press freedom, has faced multiple arrests, threats, and intimidation by Cuban authorities in the past. The recent disappearance highlights ongoing risks for independent journalism in the country, where security forces frequently detain reporters without clear legal justification.

As of the latest reports, there has been no official explanation from Cuban authorities regarding Constantin’s fate or location, and media outlets continue to demand transparency and accountability for what many press freedom advocates describe as a serious violation of fundamental rights in Cuba.