Cuba Archive - Case 11964

Case ID: 11964

Title: preso común

First name: Yoelvis

Last name: Díaz Aparicio

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: N/A

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:20 / Month:5 / Year:2025

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: Cienfuegos

Last known province current: N/A

Last known country: N/A

Location death-address: Ariza Prison in Cienfuegos

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Cienfuegos

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: N/A

Trial held?: N/A

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: N/A

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: Ariza Prison in Cienfuegos

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Death in prison while in State custody. Abandonment and negligence; denial of medical care.

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

On May 20, inmate Yoelvis Díaz Aparicio died of generalized sepsis at Ariza Prison in Cienfuegos. A chronic self-mutilator, he suffered from anxiety and an inability to adapt to the prison regime. After injecting himself with a solution of petroleum mixed with excrement, he remained in the infirmary without receiving the necessary medication; furthermore, he was not transferred to the provincial hospital’s inmate ward—despite the urgent need to do so—due to orders from the prison administration, which views self-harm as an act of indiscipline rather than a psychological trauma—a consequence of the harsh prison environment—that should be properly monitored and treated. At breakfast, inmates are served water contaminated with decomposed fish. An average meal consists of a broth made from rotten fish (known as *Mochuelo*)—riddled with bones and emitting a terrible stench—accompanied by a portion of rice weighing barely 40 to 45 grams. Within the Cuban prison system, access to medical services and intervention protocols are governed—at least in theory—by national regulations and international principles such as the Mandela Rules. These standards include intervention in critical cases, oversight by the Public Prosecutor's Office, and health promotion. In the case of the deceased, Díaz Aparicio, these standards were flagrantly violated; yet, no one has been held accountable for his death.
...
El 20 de mayo, el recluso Yoelvis Díaz Aparicio falleció a causa de una sepsis generalizada en la prisión de Ariza, en Cienfuegos. Automutilador crónico, padecía ansiedad e incapacidad de adaptarse al régimen penitenciario. Tras inyectarse una solución de petróleo mezclado con excrementos, permaneció en la enfermería sin recibir la medicación necesaria; además, no fue trasladado a la sala de reclusos del hospital provincial —a pesar de la necesidad de hacerlo— debido a órdenes de la administración penitenciaria, que considera la autolesión como indisciplina y no un trauma psicológico —consecuencia del duro entorno carcelario— que debería ser debidamente monitoreado y tratado. En el desayuno, a los reclusos se les sirve agua contaminada con pescado descompuesto. Una comida promedio consiste en un caldo elaborado con pescado podrido (conocido como *Mochuelo*) —repleto de espinas y que despide un hedor terrible— acompañado de una porción de arroz de apenas 40 a 45 gramos. Dentro del sistema penitenciario cubano, el acceso a los servicios médicos y los protocolos de intervención se rigen —al menos en teoría— por normativas nacionales y principios internacionales como las Reglas Mandela. Estos estándares incluyen la intervención en casos críticos, la supervisión del Ministerio Público y la promoción de la salud. En el caso del difunto, Díaz Aparicio, dichos estándares fueron violados flagrantemente; sin embargo, nadie ha rendido cuentas por su muerte.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Medical condition/Denial of medical care

Occupations: N/A

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Prisoner / Detainee: Non-political cause

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Yoelvis Díaz Aparicio