The Cuban government said Thursday it will release 2,010 prisoners in a move that comes as the Trump administration puts intense pressure on the island’s government through a crippling oil blockade.
The announcement said the pardon was a “humanitarian gesture” in relation to Holy Week and made no mention of the growing pressures with the United States.
The government said the affected prisoners were foreigners and Cubans, and included women, the elderly and youth.
He did not say when they were released or under what circumstances, nor did he mention the crimes they were accused of committing.
The authorities also did not provide any details on whether any of the people pardoned were protesters convicted and sentenced on charges of terrorism, contempt, or disturbing public order.
The Cuban government denies holding political prisoners, but the activist group Defend Prisoners recorded 1,214 people imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba as of February.
Cuban authorities said the decision was “based on a careful analysis of the characteristics of the crimes committed by those punished, their good behavior in prison, the time they served a significant portion of their sentence, and their health condition,” according to a statement published in state media.
This release comes at a time when the Trump administration has put intense pressure on the Cuban government, imposing a months-long oil blockade that has led to power outages and left many civilians suffering.
Cuba periodically releases prisoners at crucial moments.
In January last year, the Cuban government released 553 prisoners as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after the Biden administration announced its intention to lift the US designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Last month, Cuba released 51 people from the island’s prisons in an unexpected move that officials said stemmed from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican.
The government said Thursday’s announcement was the fifth prisoner release since 2011, and that it had released more than 11,000 people.
The announcement comes just months after the United States ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and pressured that country’s government to make sweeping changes, including releasing prisoners held for political reasons and passing an amnesty law.