HAVANA — On Thursday, the Cuban administration announced plans to release 2,010 inmates, a decision made amid intensified pressure from the Trump administration due to a stringent oil blockade affecting the island.
The statement characterized the pardons as a “humanitarian gesture” related to Holy Week, notably lacking any reference to the escalating U.S. pressures.
According to the government, the inmates benefiting from this decision include both Cuban nationals and foreigners, which encompasses women, elderly individuals, and youths. The authorities did not specify the release timeline or conditions, nor did they disclose the crimes for which the individuals were convicted.
Additionally, there was no information provided regarding whether any of those granted clemency were individuals arrested during protests and subsequently convicted on charges of terrorism, contempt, or public disorder.
While the Cuban government asserts that it does not have political prisoners, the activist organization Prisoners Defended reported having documented 1,214 individuals imprisoned on political grounds in Cuba as of February.
Cuban officials explained that the release decision was made after a thorough evaluation of the nature of the crimes committed by the individuals, their good conduct while incarcerated, the duration of their sentences served, and their health conditions, as stated in a release by state media.
This decision occurs as the Trump administration has exerted severe pressure on the Cuban government through months of an oil blockade that has precipitated blackouts and caused widespread hardship among the populace.
Cuba has a history of releasing prisoners at significant times. For instance, in January of the previous year, 553 inmates were released in connection with discussions involving the Vatican, occurring just a day after the Biden administration expressed its intention to remove Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
In the previous month, Cuba unexpectedly freed 51 inmates, a move that officials attributed to an atmosphere of goodwill and their close ties with the Vatican.
The announcement made on Thursday marked the fifth occasion since 2011 that the Cuban government has released prisoners, totaling over 11,000 individuals freed since that year.
This announcement follows the recent U.S. deposition of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and their insistence on significant reforms within the Venezuelan government, including the release of politically detained prisoners and the adoption of an amnesty law.