Yoani Sanchez says plainclothes officer stopped her leaving home in Havana

Cuban activist Yoani Sanchez says a man she alleges is a police officer in plain clothes prevented her from leaving her home in Havana. She posted video of the encounter on Facebook and said unidentified people were present in her building. The claim follows protests in Moron linked to energy blackouts and food shortages.

Cuban activist Yoani Sánchez said an alleged plainclothes police officer stopped Sánchez from leaving a Havana home on Sunday. Sánchez shared the claim as Cuba faced wider unrest and shortages. The island has struggled with energy blackouts and limited food supplies. Sánchez said the situation linked to tighter controls after recent protests.

The accusation followed a protest in Moron. A group there partly destroyed the local headquarters of the ruling communist party. The incident came amid growing anger over daily hardships. Reports have described repeated power cuts and problems getting basic items. Sánchez said events like Moron raised pressure on dissidents.

Yoani Sánchez says plainclothes policeman blocked exit

Sánchez posted a video on Facebook and confronted the man in person. Sánchez said the person did not identify himself. Sánchez also said the person kept a covered face. Sánchez described meeting the person on a lower floor of the building. Sánchez said the person claimed Sánchez could not leave.

"This is in the lower levels of my building and I have come across this civilian dressed in plain clothes who has not identified himself, has his face covered, seems very afraid of being seen, and claims that he will not let me leave,\" Sánchez said.

\"I am a citizen who has not committed any crimes, is not being judged in a court, does not have a restraining order or house arrest. So, why wont you let me leave?\" the activist said.

Yoani Sánchez links incident to other surveillance claims

Sánchez said two women who do not live in the building were also present. Sánchez said the women were roaming around after the officer arrived. Sánchez suggested the women were part of monitoring around the home. The claim added to Sánchez’s argument that the restriction was not informal.

Sánchez also referred to an earlier incident in January. Sánchez said agents detained Sánchez while travelling to a reception. The event was planned at the residence of the chief of mission of the United States. Sánchez said the agents wore badges of the Cuban Department of State Security.

The latest account left unclear if authorities issued any written order. Sánchez said no court case, restraining order, or house arrest applied. The report emerged as Cuba continued to face blackouts and food shortages. It also followed the Moron protest, where a party office was partly destroyed.

With inputs from PTI