Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a Cuban dissident, has left the island and gone into exile in the United States. Otero was arrested in 2021 during the largest anti-government protests Cuba has seen in decades. He was sentenced to five years in prison. The protests, which took place in July 2021, were sparked by shortages of basic goods, rising prices, and anger over the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of Cubans took to the streets, and security forces responded with arrests. Otero, a well-known activist, was among those detained. His exile marks the end of a legal battle that drew international attention. Human rights groups had called for his release, saying he was unfairly jailed for expressing his political views. The Cuban government, however, maintains that the protests were fueled by foreign interference and that those arrested were acting against the law. Otero's departure to the US is seen as a significant development for Cuba's opposition movement, which has faced increased pressure in recent years. The exact circumstances of his exile remain unclear, but it is understood that he left the country legally. His family has not commented publicly. The US has not issued an official statement on his arrival.