Recently, the Cuban government announced a large-scale amnesty list involving over 2000 prisoners. This move comes as Havana and Washington continue negotiations on various disputes such as political prisoners, human rights, and economic issues, highlighting the recent warming of US-Cuba relations.
According to an official statement released by the Cuban government on Monday (25th), Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel signed a pardon on April 3, granting “complete and final amnesty” to the prisoners on the list. The Cuban government described this as a “humane and sovereign measure.” Some prisoners have already been released in stages.
This is the second time the Cuban government has announced a large-scale amnesty this year, and it is the largest in recent years. When the Cuban government first announced the plan in April, they stated they would release over 2000 detainees but did not disclose specific names.
It is currently unclear whether those granted amnesty this time include individuals arrested during the nationwide anti-government protests in 2021. That year, Cuba witnessed the largest protests in decades, with people expressing dissatisfaction with economic hardships, shortages of goods, and power outages, leading to the arrest of many protesters.
The Cuban government has long denied the presence of “political prisoners” in the country, stating that those detained are charged with crimes such as disturbing public order, resisting arrest, robbery, and destruction of public property. However, in recent years, many prominent dissidents and participants in the 2021 protests have been released through various rounds of agreements and amnesty arrangements.
This amnesty announcement comes at a time when Cuba is engaged in tense negotiations with the United States on issues related to political prisoners, the economy, and sanctions. In early April, Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington publicly urged the US to help revitalize the Cuban economy, and the Cuban government announced the large-scale amnesty the following day.
However, US-Cuba relations have recently deteriorated. The US government has been increasing pressure on Cuba in recent months. On May 20, the US announced murder-related charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently stated that the possibility of a comprehensive reconciliation between the US and Cuba through negotiations is “not high.” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez responded by accusing Rubio of inciting military aggression.
(This article is based on relevant reports by Reuters)