“I felt the smell of death": Cuban journalist released from jail

Cuban journalist Carlos Michael Morales, sentenced to eight months of house arrest, in an interview with ADN Cuba and after two long hunger strikes said: “I felt the smell of death”.

About the trial, held in the Provincial Court of Villa Clara, he described it as 'a farce' and 'a cheap show in bad taste'.

“Since I was in Criminal Instruction, the sentence against me was dictated”, he added.

Morales reiterated the great work done by his defense attorney in confronting the Court, which accused him of the alleged crime of disobedience.

“The lawyer in a dignified way, in a strong way, dismantled all the accusations,” he stressed.

The former political prisoner is at his home in the municipality of Caibarién, but does not consider himself at liberty. “I am in a state of release, I am not free, I am released,” he told ADNCuba magazine.

Regarding his state of health he confirmed that it is critical, with severe malnutrition, severe bone decalcification and muscle atrophy after two hunger strikes of several weeks.

“So I feel very bad, I can barely walk. Today I went to buy some food 200 meters from my house and came back with very strong pains in my legs, joints. I am seeing the after-effects of the strikes,” he said.

Doctors have already told him that his recovery will be slow.

“It is going to be very slow due to the severe malnutrition I have and there are damages that are yet to be evaluated. I have to have several medical tests because I may have a damaged liver, gall bladder, kidneys, pancreas and heart,” he said.

“I felt the smell of death. Here I am standing in front of terror, because what I lived through this month was a real horror movie. You can continue to count on Carlos Michael and I will continue to spread the sad reality that the Cuban nation is living,” concluded the activist.

The journalist was arrested at the beginning of May, accused of the alleged crime of disobedience, after months of harassment against him.

In March, the reporter had been released after serving a three-year sentence for his coverage of the July 11, 2021 anti-government protests in Caibarién, Villa Clara province. However, his journalistic activity continued after his release from prison, which led to his recent arrest.

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