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Despite asserting that the promise to release 553 prisoners was a unilateral decision resulting from an agreement with the Vatican, since last Monday, the Cuban regime has halted the releases, as confirmed by independent organizations.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to re-list Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, Havana has not released any additional prisoners, according to reports from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights and Cubalex.
The Cuban Bishop Eloy Ricardo Domínguez, who has played a key role in the negotiations related to political prisoners, assured the Reuters agency that the release of prisoners in Cuba will continue, despite the decision made by the United States.
"The process of liberation will not stop," said the bishop, suggesting that the agreement with the Catholic Church would move forward.
However, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights has noted an apparent pause in the process.
Similarly, the news agency Reuters has interviewed several released individuals, who have expressed their concerns, as although the island's government does not publicly acknowledge it, the agreement included a relaxation of sanctions on Cuba in exchange for the release of political prisoners.
So far, Cuban authorities have released about 150 prisoners, roughly a quarter of the 553 they had promised, according to reports from human rights groups.
Most of the released prisoners are connected to the protests of July 11 and 12, 2021, which are regarded as the largest since 1959.
In his early hours in office, Trump signed a decree that reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a measure that had been adopted at the end of Joe Biden's administration, as part of an effort to ease sanctions on the island.
The Cuban government has not provided details on the impact of Trump's decision on the process, and official information remains scarce; however, the listings have remained unchanged since Monday night.
Trump's measure was described by the regime as a display of "the aggressiveness of American imperialism."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention of Political Prisoner Releases in Cuba and Its Context
Why did the releases of political prisoners in Cuba come to a halt?
The release of political prisoners in Cuba ceased after Donald Trump reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This action was viewed as a reaction to the policy shift made by Joe Biden, who had removed Cuba from that list. The halt in the release process has raised concerns among human rights organizations and the families of the prisoners.
What was the agreement between Cuba and the Vatican regarding the release of prisoners?
The agreement between Cuba and the Vatican included the release of 553 political prisoners as part of a gesture of reconciliation promoted by the Catholic Church. This agreement was mediated by the Vatican and coincided with the decision of the Joe Biden administration to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The release of prisoners has been seen as an act of goodwill within the framework of the jubilee promoted by Pope Francis.
What impact does Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism have?
The inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism entails an increase in economic sanctions and diplomatic restrictions against the island. This could affect Cuba's international relations, complicate economic cooperation, and increase pressure on its government. The measure was seen as a setback to the progress made during the Biden administration, which sought to ease tensions between the two countries.
How many political prisoners have been released so far in Cuba?
So far, approximately 150 political prisoners have been released in Cuba, which represents around a quarter of the 553 that had been pledged for release. Most of those released are connected to the protests of July 11 and 12, 2021. However, the process has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the halt in new releases following recent actions by the United States.
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