The initial releases following the Cuban government's recent pardon began on Friday at La Lima prison, located on the outskirts of Havana. However, as human rights organizations had anticipated, political prisoners remain excluded from this measure.
CNN journalist Patrick Oppmann reported on the releases, noting that those freed were individuals convicted of non-political crimes, such as armed robbery and fraud.
On Thursday, the regime announced a pardon for 2,010 individuals, presenting it as a "humanitarian and sovereign gesture" coinciding with Easter celebrations.
This pardon is the largest in decades and marks the fifth since 2011, a year when such measures began and have since benefited over 11,000 people in total.
Political Prisoners Remain Behind Bars
The official decree excludes those convicted of "crimes against authority," a category under which hundreds of demonstrators from the July 11, 2021 protests were sentenced for charges such as sedition, disrespect, and public disorder.
Consequently, the majority of the July 11 protest detainees do not benefit from the pardon. According to the organization Justicia 11J, there are at least 760 political prisoners in Cuba, including 358 from the July 11 protests.
The Cuban government denies the existence of political prisoners and asserts that all were sanctioned for "criminal acts," allowing it to present the pardon as a broad measure without acknowledging the political nature of these convictions.
Reactions from Civil Society
Civil society's response has been one of skepticism. Javier Larrondo, president of Prisoners Defenders, commented, "If a few political prisoners are released, we should celebrate with their families, but we don't have high hopes for this measure to be genuinely significant."
Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer was more direct, accusing the regime of attempting to relieve pressure with these pardons while keeping political prisoners incarcerated.
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights demanded that the pardon include all political prisoners, criticizing the progress as insufficient and calling for a "swift and transparent" process.
Context of Previous Pardons
This is not the first pardon of 2026. On March 12, following a dialogue with the Vatican, the regime announced the release of 51 individuals. Just over 20 political prisoners were freed, but these releases did not constitute full amnesties; rather, they were conditional and revocable penitentiary benefits, leaving sentences unchanged.
The announcement of the pardon also comes amidst significant pressure from the United States on Cuba, involving tensions over oil access and bilateral negotiations. Nonetheless, the regime maintains that the measure is based on sovereign and humanitarian criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Recent Pardons
Who are excluded from the Cuban government's recent pardon?
Individuals convicted of "crimes against authority," including political prisoners from the July 11, 2021 protests, are excluded from the recent pardon.
What was the scope of the recent pardon announced by the Cuban government?
The Cuban government announced a pardon for 2,010 individuals, touting it as a "humanitarian and sovereign gesture" aligning with Easter celebrations.
How has civil society reacted to the recent pardons in Cuba?
Civil society's reaction has largely been skeptical, with demands for the inclusion of all political prisoners and criticism of the progress as insufficient.