US sanctions Cuban leader for human rights violations on anniversary of country's uprising

The State Department on Friday sanctioned several Cuban officials, including its President Miguel Díaz-Canel, for alleged human rights violations the regime committed against protesters four years ago.

The sanctions come on the anniversary of the Cuban regime's violent crackdown on anti-government protests that broke out across the country in 2021. A Cuban watchdog found that the government had committed more than 9,700 repressive actions against its own civilians that year, marking the worst year in two decades for human rights in the island nation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American, announced the sanctions in a post on X, which were also levied against Cuban Defense Minister Álvaro López Miera, and Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas.

"Four years ago, thousands of Cubans peacefully took to the streets to demand a future free from tyranny," the secretary said in a statement. "The Cuban regime responded with violence and repression, unjustly detaining thousands, including over 700 who are still imprisoned and subjected to torture or abuse.

"Today, the Department of State is taking steps to implement President Trump’s strengthened Cuba policy," he continued. "In solidarity with the Cuban people and the island’s political prisoners, the United States is designating key regime leaders under Section 7031(c) for their involvement in gross violations of human rights."

The State Department also added 11 regime-linked properties to the Cuba Restricted List and the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, in order to keep U.S. funds from getting to Cuban leaders.

"The U.S. will continue to stand for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cuba, and make clear no illegitimate, dictatorial regimes are welcome in our hemisphere," Rubio concluded.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.