For the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, it is a duty to continue informing the people and international public opinion about the legal response given to the serious events that occurred on July 11, 2021, which threatened the constitutional order and stability of our socialist State.
As has been explained, these events occurred in a particularly complex context of the global economic crisis, exacerbated by an unprecedented pandemic that took the lives of many Cubans, and the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States government against our country, which continues trying, without being able to succeed, to destroy the Revolution.
In a tendentious manner, the manipulations and opinion matrixes continue, which seek to accuse Cuba of human rights violations, trying to delegitimize the criminal proceedings initiated to investigate conduct constituting a crime, in accordance with current laws.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, as part of its mission, verified compliance with the constitutional rights and guarantees of due process, and controlled the development of the investigations carried out by the bodies of the Ministry of the Interior, the right to defense was guaranteed, the lawyers provided evidence and had access to the proceedings.
The Prosecutor's Office received, once the investigation was concluded, 117 files of the preparatory phase corresponding to the events of greater connotation, with 790 people indicted for acts of vandalism, which attacked authorities, people and property, as well as serious disturbances of order. 21% of these people had criminal records.
Of these, 110 files have been presented to the courts, with 710 defendants for trial, 69% of them insured with the precautionary measure of provisional prison.
Of the total number of defendants in these files, 115 are between 16 and 20 years of age, against whom it was decided to bring criminal action before the courts, due to the seriousness of the acts committed and their proven participation:
55 of them are among 16 and 18 years of age, of which 28 are insured with the precautionary measure of provisional prison. Based on the possibilities offered by the law and as a result of the practice of the evidence in the oral proceedings, the acknowledgment of the facts, the repentance shown and the condition of students, the Prosecutor's Office modified the request for sanction to 18 of these accused people, for others of less severity.
Likewise, 60 are between 19 and 20 years old, of these 41 insured with provisional prison.
The decision of the Prosecutor's Office to uphold the accusation before the courts, in all cases, was based on the evidence provided, including the statements of witnesses and victims, expert opinion of videos published in different media and other media, which allowed the identification of those accused in acts that typify crimes of public disorder, incitement to commit a crime, damage, robbery with force and violence, attack, sabotage and sedition.
The determination to prosecute for the crime of sedition, although severe penalties are foreseen, corresponds to the level of violence shown in the vandalism that in a tumultuous manner caused injuries and endangered the lives of citizens, officials and members of the security forces, by attacking them with the use of sharp, blunt and incendiary objects, with the serious disturbance of public order and the deliberate purpose of subverting the constitutional order.
In different localities, official institutions, hospitals, exchange houses (Cadeca), commercial establishments and fuel stores were stoned. Many of them, as a result of the violence generated, were looted and their goods were stolen, causing considerable damage; They were also besieged, overturned and damaged means of transport.
The sanctions requested by the Prosecutor's Office are in correspondence with the seriousness of the facts, the level of participation and the damage caused to society.
As a result of the 84 trials carried out, the Prosecutor's Office has been notified of 44 sentences issued by the courts, in which 172 defendants were sanctioned, who had the right to establish the corresponding resources.
As for minors under 16 years of age, in Cuba these are not subject to Criminal Law. In the investigations, the participation of 27 was accredited, to whom the established legal procedure was applied: 10 were interned in comprehensive training and conduct schools, for intervening together with adults in the commission of these acts; 17 were given the measure of individualized attention in the school of the National Education System where they are studying.The Prosecutor's Office, in accordance with its constitutional function, assisted 508 citizens who requested information on these criminal proceedings and processed 238 complaints or petitions.
The prosecutors interviewed the people and verified the exposed elements that were contributed to the criminal investigation. The results were explained personally by the prosecutor to the promoters, offering the legal arguments in each case.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic reiterates that it will act in accordance with the constitutional mandate, within the legal framework, in accordance with due process, the protection of the interests of the State and respect for the rights of all citizens.