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The independent organization Justicia 11J reported that it has documented an underreporting of at least 760 people detained for political reasons in Cuba, while warning about the risks of new "opaque, selective, and conditional" release processes.
The statement was published on March 12, 2026, after the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the release of 51 individuals sentenced to imprisonment, a decision that the government presented as a gesture in the context of relations with the Vatican and on the eve of Holy Week. The full content of the declaration can be found in the statement published by Justicia 11J.
According to the official statement, the individuals granted relief have served part of their sentences and have maintained good behavior in prison, although the authorities have not specified when the releases will begin nor have they disclosed the names of those who would be liberated.
In response to this announcement, Justicia 11J stated: “Following the Cuban government's announcement regarding the upcoming release of 51 individuals deprived of liberty, we at Justicia 11J caution about the dangers of opaque, selective, and conditional release processes, which we have already documented in recent experiences.”
According to the organization's records, 358 people were imprisoned for participating in the protests on July 11, 2021, while at least 112 have vulnerabilities related to their health or age.
Also, at least 176 individuals have been linked to civil society organizations, political movements, activism spaces, or independent initiatives, according to the group's monitoring.
The organization also recalled that “the release of any individual is a relief for their families”, but emphasized that such measures do not replace structural reforms.
In that regard, he insisted: “the only solution compatible with human rights is the full and unconditional release of all individuals imprisoned for political reasons.”
Background of conditional releases
The announcement from the Cuban government comes approximately one year after a process of pardons carried out between January and March 2025, when the authorities announced they would release more than 500 individuals.
Subsequent investigations conducted by human rights organizations concluded that those measures did not constitute full releases, but rather conditional and revocable prison benefits.
According to records documented by Justicia 11J, 212 people sanctioned for political reasons benefited from that process, which was carried out without publishing official lists or explaining the criteria used to select the beneficiaries.
The organization also documented that at least six of those individuals were later returned to prison due to alleged violations of the conditions imposed by the authorities.
In other cases, repeated summons, constant police surveillance, restrictions on mobility, and threats of revocation of benefits were reported, which, according to the statement, demonstrates that the releases were not accompanied by structural changes that ensure respect for civil and political rights.
Call for unconditional releases
Justicia 11J stated that the new announcement could be a response to situational dynamics of political or diplomatic negotiation and reiterated that the processes of release must meet standards of transparency.
The organization requested that the Cuban state publish clear information about who will be released, the criteria used for their selection, and the conditions under which the releases will take place.
He also emphasized the need to review judicial processes conducted in violation of due process and to ensure the respect for fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
"The fact that there are people imprisoned for exercising these rights remains incompatible with international human rights standards," stated the organization, which assured that it will continue to monitor the progress of the release process.
The official announcement regarding the release of 51 inmates, made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can be consulted in the information published about the Cuban government's decision to release 51 prisoners in the context of dialogue with the Vatican.
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