On Friday, journalist Norges Rodríguez highlighted the inaccuracy of claims circulating on social media that all 2,010 prisoners recently pardoned by the Cuban government are political detainees. This clarification comes after widespread misinformation followed the regime's official announcement.
The Cuban authorities framed the pardon as a humanitarian and sovereign gesture aligned with the Easter celebrations, under Article 90, Section II of the Constitution, and disseminated the news through the Presidency and the state-run newspaper Granma.
"The Cuban regime announced the pardon of over 2,000 inmates. Many media outlets, journalists, and influencers are incorrectly stating that these are all political prisoners. This is not true. I recommend consulting Cuban organizations that track this issue," Rodríguez, director of YucaByte, posted on the social platform X.
He suggested turning to four independent organizations that specialize in monitoring prisoners in Cuba: Cubalex, Justicia 11J, the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), and Prisoners Defenders.
Understanding the Misunderstanding
The misconception has a structural basis: the pardon primarily benefits common criminals, and the regime explicitly excludes those convicted of "crimes against the authority," a category under which many protesters from July 11, 2021, were charged.
This exclusion means that prominent political prisoners are not part of the amnesty. Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara from the San Isidro Movement, sentenced to five years, and Maykel "Osorbo" Castillo, serving a nine-year term, remain imprisoned. Otero Alcántara began a hunger strike in December 2025 at Guanajay prison, and his health has significantly worsened.
Official Narrative vs. Reality
Independent organizations present figures that starkly contrast with the official narrative. At the end of February 2026, Prisoners Defenders reported 1,214 political prisoners in Cuba. Justicia 11J accounted for at least 760, including 358 from the 11J protests, along with 112 vulnerable individuals due to health or age, and 176 activists.
As of Friday morning, the OCDH confirmed that only 27 political prisoners had been released as part of a prior agreement with the Holy See, announced on March 12. The organization described the progress as "poor" and called for a "swift and transparent" process to free all prisoners of conscience.
Reactions and Criticism
This recent amnesty is the second of 2026 and the fifth since 2011, with over 11,000 beneficiaries in total. The first amnesty of the year occurred on March 12, following Vatican mediation, when the regime announced the release of 51 prisoners. Of these, Prisoners Defenders verified that at least five were political prisoners.
Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer criticized the pardons as inadequate, accusing the regime of using them as a tactic to "get out of a bind." Meanwhile, artist Ulises Toirac questioned the numbers and pointed out the selective nature of the amnesty, suggesting that the figure of 2,000 is significant and indicative of a larger issue.
Since the 11J protests, Prisoners Defenders has documented a total of 1,981 political detentions up to February 2026, underscoring the extent of the repression that no mass release of common prisoners can hide or make up for.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuban Amnesty
Who are the prominent political prisoners excluded from the Cuban pardon?
Prominent figures such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel "Osorbo" Castillo are excluded from the pardon. They remain imprisoned under charges related to "crimes against the authority."
How many political prisoners are reported by independent organizations in Cuba?
Prisoners Defenders reports 1,214 political prisoners, while Justicia 11J accounts for at least 760, including various groups such as those vulnerable due to health or age.
What was the role of the Holy See in the recent Cuban amnesty?
The Holy See mediated an agreement resulting in the release of 51 prisoners in March, of which at least five were confirmed political prisoners by Prisoners Defenders.