Cuban Communist regime committed more than 9,000 repressive acts against citizens in 2021: report

The ruling Communist regime in Cuba committed more than 9,700 repressive actions against its own civilians in 2021, marking the worst year in two decades for human rights in the island nation, according to a report from the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).

The Cuban regime violently cracked down on anti-government protests that broke out across the country in July. 

The 9,705 repressive actions recorded by ODCH include 2,717 arbitrary arrests and 3,743 illegal home detainments. Protesters in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Villa Clara faced the brunt of repression according to the report.

At least 1,001 political prisoners remained incarcerated by the Communist government at the end of the year.

“As its decline deepens, the regime intensifies its repression. Thousands of repressive actions, hundreds of political prisoners and a worsening of the living conditions of Cubans have marked the reality of the island in 2021. Unfortunately, we do not observe elements that indicate that this situation will change in the new year," the OCDH stated.

While the protests died out during the summer, in December alone ODCH recorded at least 498 repressive actions, including 56 arrests. 

The OCDH on Monday filed a complaint with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Children's Fund. The group stated that 39 people under the age of 21 are imprisoned for peaceful protest in Cuba. An additional 107 young people "face criminal measures for the simple exercise of rights," OCDH states.