Cuba Releases Political Prisoners Following US Move to Drop Terror Designation

Cuba began releasing prisoners Wednesday, including those detained in connection with the historic 2021 protests, following negotiations with the Vatican and a move by the Biden administration to lift the island nation’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, The Associated Press reports.

According to Cuban civil groups, over a dozen individuals convicted of various crimes, many linked to the 2021 demonstrations, were released throughout the day.

The releases come a day after the US government formally notified Congress of its intent to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision, facilitated by the Vatican, was reportedly made on the condition that the Cuban authorities would release some political prisoners before President Biden’s term ends on January 20.

The Cuban foreign ministry confirmed it informed Pope Francis of its plan to gradually release 553 convicts, citing legal and humanitarian avenues for their freedom. While the ministry did not officially link the releases to the US decision, they claimed it was done “in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of the year 2025,” referencing a major Catholic event.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez reiterated that these were separate issues, and while he didn’t mention the prisoner releases, he emphasized the importance of removing Cuba from the terrorism sponsor list.

By 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights reported that 18 people had been released.

The 2021 protests, sparked by widespread power outages and shortages amidst a severe economic crisis, saw thousands of Cubans take to the streets. The government’s crackdown on the demonstrators, which included numerous arrests, drew international criticism. Cuban officials attributed the unrest to US sanctions and a media campaign. In November, another Cuban NGO, Justice 11J, said that 554 people remained in custody as a result of these protests.

However, the recent progress might be short-lived. President-elect Donald Trump is likely to reverse Biden’s decision to remove the terror designation as early as next week. Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, a staunch critic of the Cuban government due to his family’s history, has long advocated for sanctions against the island.