Professor Pedro Albert is released after ten days on a hunger strike in prison

After ten days on a hunger strike due to the authorities of a Cuban prison denying him an interview, Professor Pedro Albert Sánchez is now at home, having been granted a one-year extrapenal leave.

This was made known by his wife, Ana Elvis Amaya Leyva, during a live broadcast on Facebook, where she stated that the Cuban political prisoner is with his son and will begin medical treatment following a specialized assessment.

Albert Sánchez, a 67-year-old prostate cancer patient, began a hunger strike several days ago. "Pedro decided not to eat because he wants to speak out; he wants to have a dialogue with the regime, and they have turned their backs on him," his wife remarked to provide context to his situation.

The release of the professor, who was incarcerated at the 1580 prison in San Miguel del Padrón, has been celebrated by several Cuban activists, who view this event as a triumph in the struggle for the liberation of political prisoners.

"In the midst of pain, a good piece of news, a ray of hope. To all those who fought for his release, thank you. Together we are always stronger to overcome the dictatorship. Pedro is an example of that strength, of the ability to mobilize, of the sense of justice," expressed activist Carolina Barrero on Facebook.

Yamilka Laffita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, described the professor as “one of the most committed men to freedom that I have known in Cuba. It should be noted that he should never have been imprisoned. His only crime is envisioning a free and democratic Cuba.”

For his part, the Cuban activist Arián Cruz Álvarez, known as Tata Poet, celebrated Albert Sánchez's release from prison and clarified that "he was not freed; he is still serving a joint sentence of 5 years for the fabricated crimes of public disorder and contempt."

In January 2023, the Cuban professor was sentenced to five years of restricted freedom by the People's Municipal Court of Diez de Octubre. The sentence is a result of his involvement in the protests on July 11, 2021.

Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience and urged President Miguel Díaz-Canel to release him "immediately and unconditionally."