Cuba frees 214 prisoners, but few protest leaders included
The Holy See intervened in Cuba, and authorities in Havana released 214 prisoners. However, only a small group of opposition members was included in this release. In total, the Vatican advocated for 553 detainees.
Among those released, the majority are prisoners convicted of common crimes.
The Cuban authorities freed only four opposition members who were arrested during the protests on July 11, 2021. Participants in these demonstrations were protesting the deteriorating living conditions on the island.
Their release is conditional. They must adhere to regime rules, including a ban on contacting the media and using social networks. These opposition members were serving sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years.
Cuba reluctantly responds to Vatican pressure
The release of prisoners, advocated by the Holy See, began mid-January. This followed the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden.
It is estimated that the number of political prisoners in Havana has decreased only slightly in recent weeks. In total, there are about 1,150 political prisoners in Cuba.
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