The Cuban government announced on Thursday that it will release 2,010 prisoners. This decision comes as the Trump administration continues to pressure the country through an oil blockade.
Officials described the move as a humanitarian gesture linked to Holy Week. They did not directly refer to the situation with the US.
The government said the group includes Cuban nationals and foreign citizens. It also includes women, elderly people and young individuals. Authorities have not confirmed when the releases will take place. They also have not explained the conditions or the offences involved.
Officials did not clarify whether any of those released were protesters. Some protesters had previously been convicted of offences such as terrorism, contempt or public disorder.
Background and previous releases
The Cuban government continues to deny holding political prisoners. However, advocacy group Prisoners Defended reported 1,214 such cases in February.
State media said officials reviewed each case carefully. They considered the nature of the offences, behaviour in prison, time already served and health conditions.
The announcement comes during a period of continued US pressure. The oil blockade has contributed to power shortages and has affected daily life across the island.
Cuba has carried out similar releases at key moments in the past. In January last year, authorities freed 553 prisoners after talks with the Vatican. This followed a US signal that it might remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
More recently, officials released 51 prisoners. They described the move as a gesture of goodwill linked to relations with the Vatican.
Thursday’s decision marks the fifth such release since 2011. The government says it has freed more than 11,000 prisoners during that time.
The announcement also comes amid wider regional tensions. The US has recently increased pressure on Venezuela and called for political reforms, including the release of detainees and the introduction of amnesty measures.
