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The NGO Prisoners Defenders reported that only 19 political prisoners have been released out of the 51 inmates that the Cuban regime announced would be freed this week.
“In January 2025, out of 553 'released prisoners', only 40% (219) were political prisoners, the rest being common criminals. Now, out of 51, only 19 are political prisoners released and, if the process was immediate as stated, they still do not reach even 40% (20). 60% of the 51 would be common prisoners. Again, another fraudulent process,” the organization denounced on X.
Prisoners Defenders also explained that although the Cuban regime spoke of releases, most prisoners are freed "under threats and with their sentences intact."
For Prisioners Defenders, this strategy of the regime represents a "macabre game" with which they "harm families, play with their lives and dreams, and... only to lie afterward? The regime's path is one of destruction, and it must end."
"There is only one way out: THE RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN CUBA," they concluded.
Below is the list of the 19 political prisoners released as of this Sunday, according to the report from Prisoners Defenders:
- Ibrahín Ariel González Hodelin, 26 years old, sentenced to 9 years, Mar Verde Prison, Santiago de Cuba.
- Ariel Pérez Montesino, 52 years old, sentenced to 10 years, Guanajay Prison, Artemisa.
- Juan Pablo Martínez, Monterrey, 32 years old, sentenced to 11 years, Forced Labor Prison Ceiba 5, Artemisa.
- Ronald García Sánchez, 33 years old, sentenced to 14 years, Toledo 2 Forced Labor Prison, Marianao, Havana
- Adael Jesús Leyva Diaz, 29 years old, sentenced to 13 years in forced labor prison Zone 0, Combinado del Este, Havana
- Oscar Bárbaro Bravo Cruzata, 27 years old, sentenced to 13 years, Prison of Forced Labor La Lima, Guanabacoa
- José Luis Sánchez Tito, 34 years old, sentenced to 16 years, Combinado del Este Prison, Havana
- Roberto Ferrer Gener, 52 years old, sentenced to 15 years, Combinado del Este Prison, Havana
- Deyvis Javier Torres Acosta, 33 years old, sentenced to 10 years, Valle Grande Prison, Havana
- Yussuan Villalba Sierra, 35 years old, sentenced to 10 years, Forced Labor Prison of the East Combined
- Eduardo Álvarez Rigal, 36 years old, sentenced to 13 years, Forced Labor Prison La Lima, Guanabacoa
- Wilmer Moreno Suárez, 37 years old, sentenced to 18 years, Forced Labor Prison Zone 0, Combinado del Este, Havana
- Frank Aldama Rodríguez, 33 years old, sentenced to 16 years, Combinado del Este Prison, Havana
- Miguel Enrique Girón Velázquez, 29 years old, sentenced to 11 years, La Aguada Youth Prison, Holguín
- Jorge Vallejo Venegas, 39 years old, sentenced to 15 years, Forced Labor Prison La Lima, Guanabacoa
- Luis Esteffani Hernández Valdés, 34 years old, sentenced to 6 years, Ho Chi Minh Forced Labor Prison, Bainoa, Jaruco
- Franklin Reymundo Fernández Rodríguez, 25 years old, sentenced to 9 years, Holguín Provincial Prison
- Carlos Pérez Cosme, 38 years old, sentenced to 10 years, Toledo 2 Forced Labor Prison, Marianao, Havana
- Felipe Almirall, 65 years old, sentenced to 9 years in prison, Forced Labor Prison La Lima, Guanabacoa
Some of the released prisoners
On Saturday, the organization Justicia 11J explained that the majority of those identified as beneficiaries so far are protesters from July 11, 2021, although in several cases the exact legal conditions under which they were released from prison are still unknown.
According to the report, one of the confirmed cases is that of Luis Esteffani Hernández Valdés, who was released this Saturday on probation. The prosecutor's request was for 8 years of imprisonment for the crimes of public disorder and contempt. He was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment.
Another individual mentioned is Ariel Pérez Montesino, who was released from prison on March 13, 2026. Justicia 11J reported that it has not yet been able to determine the conditions under which his release occurred.
Pérez Montesino faced a fiscal request for 15 years of imprisonment and was sentenced to 10 years for alleged offenses of public disorder and contempt. The organization also specified that it has no information on whether there was an appeal or the outcome of any potential proceedings.
The release of Franklin Reymundo Fernández Rodríguez was also verified under parole.
He was prosecuted for the alleged crime of sedition, with a prosecutor's request of 18 years, originally sentenced to 12 years and later benefited by a reduction to nine years through the appeal process.
On the same date, Justicia 11J confirmed the release of Miguel Enrique Girón Velázquez, this time under extrapenal license. According to the document, he was also prosecuted for sedition, with a prosecutor's request of 25 years, an initial sentence of 14 years, and a subsequent reduction to 11 years of imprisonment following the cassation.
Another one of those released is Juan Pablo Martínez Monterrey, who was freed on parole.
In his case, the prosecutor requested a 13-year prison sentence, and he received a punishment of 11 years for the alleged crimes of public disorder and sabotage. The document indicates that the appeal did not alter the sentence.
The list also includes the opposition figure Roberto Ferrer Gener, whose release was confirmed this Friday, although Justicia 11J stated that they still did not know under what conditions he was released from prison.
The text indicates that he was prosecuted for allegedly offering money to another person to chant slogans, thus serving a sentence for the protests of July 11 without having directly participated in them.
His sentencing request was for 20 years for alleged acts against state security related to the crime of sedition, and he was sentenced to 15 years, a penalty that was upheld on appeal.
Among the confirmed names is also Yussuan Villalba Sierra, released on parole.
He faced a prosecution request of 20 years for sedition, was sentenced to 18 years, and later had his sentence reduced to 10 years during the appeal process.
Justicia 11J also verified the release of Wilmer Moreno Suárez on that same day, although it was not yet able to specify the legal status applied.
The Prosecutor's Office requested a 25-year prison sentence for him for sedition. He was sentenced to 26 years, and later, his penalty was reduced to 18 years on appeal.
Another confirmed case is that of Oscar Bárbaro Bravo Cruzata, whose release occurred this Friday. The organization indicated that it still does not know under what legal framework he was released, but emphasized that he left prison in poor health due to a liver disease.
His sentence request had been for 20 years for sedition; he was sentenced to 18 years, and then the appeal reduced his penalty to 13 years.
The list also includes Eduardo Álvarez Rigal, whose release was confirmed this Friday, although the applicable legal status has not been specified. He was charged with sedition, with a prosecutor's request of 20 years, and sentenced to 13 years in prison, a sentence that remained unchanged after the appeal.
Those cases also include Ronald García Sánchez and Adael Jesús Leyva Díaz, both released on parole.
Ronald García Sánchez faced a prosecution request for 23 years for sedition, was sentenced to 20 years, and his sentence was eventually reduced to 14 years on appeal.
In the case of Adael Jesús Leyva Díaz, the prosecution's request was for 21 years, the initial sentence was 19 years, and the final sentence was 13 years following the appeal.
Releases amid tensions and dialogue with the U.S.
The releases are part of the process of liberating 51 individuals deprived of their liberty announced by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 12.
However, Justicia 11J urged caution by recalling that a similar process that took place in the first quarter of 2025 involved the granting of conditional and revocable penitentiary benefits, not amnesties or pardons that would completely eliminate the sanctions.
The organization itself placed these releases within a broader repressive context.
At the time of this announcement, Justicia 11J documented an underreporting of 760 individuals deprived of liberty for political reasons in Cuba, many of whom were imprisoned for participating in protests, engaging in civic activism, or expressing critical opinions.
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