Cuba begins to free more than 2,000 prisoners as US eases fuel blockade | Cuba
Cuban authorities began releasing prisoners after announcing they would pardon 2,010 prisoners; This is the second evacuation in less than a month as the country faces increasing US pressure.
More than 20 inmates walked out of La Lima Prison in East Havana on Friday, holding release papers in their hands, crying and hugging relatives who had been waiting for them since the morning.
“We thank them for this opportunity,” said Albis Gainza, 46, who has served half of a six-year prison sentence for robbery.
He said he couldn’t sleep after learning he would be released.
“This needs to continue… [and] more have been published,” Gainza told AFP.
The Cuban government announced late Thursday that it plans to pardon 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture to mark Holy Week.
The announcement came just days after Donald Trump eased the de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to carry crude oil to the country.
The Trump administration has called for changes to communist-run Cuba’s system of government, and the US president is mulling “taking over” the island.
The release of political prisoners has long been a key U.S. demand in Cuba, and the two sides have recently held talks while Havana pledged last month to release dozens of them.
Michael Bustamante, chair of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, said: “It doesn’t seem too far-fetched to think that this is a sign that some of the talks between both governments are moving forward. Maybe slowly, but they are moving forward.”
“To where? Uncertain,” he added. “I think we also need to see who is involved in these broadcasts to understand their potential political significance.”
The Cuban government has not said who will be pardoned, what crimes they committed or when they will be released. It was stated that the selection was based on the nature of the crimes, good behavior in prison, health reasons and time spent in prison.
The statement said the “humane and sovereign gesture” will include young people, women and prisoners over the age of 60 who are scheduled to be released early for the next six months to a year.
Cuba announced on March 12 that it would release 51 prisoners as a sign of “goodwill” towards the Vatican, which frequently mediates between Washington and Havana.
A day later, President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that talks were taking place between US and Cuban officials.
Havana said on Thursday that its latest move would be the fifth time it has pardoned prisoners since 2011, covering more than 11,000 people.
He said the decision “took place within the context of the religious celebrations of Holy Week, which is a traditional practice in our criminal justice system and a reflection of the human legacy of the revolution.”
It was stated that among those pardoned were foreigners as well as Cuban citizens living abroad and convicted in absentia.
The government has said people released from prison will not include people who committed murder, sexual assault, drug-related offences, theft, illegal animal slaughter or crimes against authority.
Also on Thursday, Russia announced it would send a second oil tanker to Cuba, which Bustamante emphasized was potentially important.
“One would be tempted to conclude, or wonder, whether the Trump administration’s decision to let in a Russian ship, and perhaps another ship, is connected to this,” he said.
U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio is a Cuban American and a vocal critic of the Havana government. He told Fox News on Tuesday that Cuba needs economic and political reforms.
“If you don’t change their government systems, you can’t fix their economy,” Rubio said. “But they’re in big trouble, there’s no doubt about that, and we’ll have more news on that very soon.”
