Cuba: prominent La Hora de Cuba journalist Henry Constantín in pre-trial detention

Henry Constantín Ferreiro, founder and director of digital news outlet La Hora de Cuba, has been deprived of his liberty since 16 September. The journalist is accused of "disobedience" for allegedly failing to attend a summons dated 9 September. However, according to a Facebook post Henry Constantín published that same day, the journalist was present at the Vista Hermosa immigration office. By the time he arrived, the officers had already left and reportedly told him that he would be summoned again. On 15 September, he received a new "verbal summons" instructing him to report to a National Police unit the following morning, according to RSF information. Henry Constantín reported to the unit on 16 September. When he failed to leave the premises or give any news to his colleagues, they started searching several detention centres. They eventually located him a few hours later at "Villa María Luisa", the headquarters of state security operations and interrogations in Camagüey. On 24 September, the journalist was transferred to Kilo 7, a high-security prison in Camagüey.

According to RSF information, the defence was denied access to the case file during the first five days of his detention. Once it had obtained the file, his lawyer prepared an application seeking to replace pre-trial detention with an alternative measure. She encountered delays and administrative obstacles in the habeas corpus proceedings - a procedure to challenge the legality of detention - initiated before the Popular Provincial Court of Camagüey. During a visit to Villa María Luisa that lasted approximately 20 minutes, his partner, fellow journalist Alejandra García, was able to give him medication, water and essential supplies. Henry Constantín then gave her a message to relay to the outside world, which she shared with RSF: "I am calm and remain determined."

A journalist, writer and photographer, Henry Constantín Ferreiro founded La Hora de Cuba in Camagüey in 2013. Initially launched as an independent print magazine, the Camagüey-based project later became a digital news outlet covering arrests, legal proceedings, state security operations and violations of freedom of expression, as well as the economic crisis and failures in public services. In 2026, La Hora de Cuba received the Civil Rights Defender of the Year award. Henry Constantín was unable to travel to Stockholm to receive the distinction because he has been banned from leaving Cuba since 2019.

One Cuban journalist who spoke with RSF and has known Henry Constantín since the days when they were both bloggers - and whose identity is withheld for security reasons - emphasised Henry Constantín's role in developing independent journalism in Camagüey. In 2016, during the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) congress in New York City in the USA, Henry Constantín challenged Cuban government representatives on the restrictions imposed on Cuban citizens at a time when the Caribbean country and the United States were engaged in a process of rapprochement. Five years later, during protests on 11 July 2021, he was arrested on his way to cover the protests in Camagüey.

According to RSF's monitoring, this is at least the 19th time Henry Constantín has been thrown behind bars. Several of these detentions took place while he was carrying out his journalistic work, or were linked to content published by La Hora de Cuba. He has notably been arrested after coverage of demonstrations and legal proceedings, interviewing prisoners' relatives and, in one instance in 2025, in connection with legal proceedings linked to content about a state security agent.

RSF has documented the weaponisation of summonses against other journalists. In September, freelance journalist Yunia Figueredo, former director of digital news outlet Amanecer Habanero, was forced to report to the authorities every month and threatened with prosecution for "disobedience" if she failed to comply with this requirement. Henry Constantín's current pre-trial detention marks a further escalation in restrictions on independent journalism in Cuba.