US EditionCuba will release 51 people from prison in an unexpected move
Cuba will release 51 prisoners who have served most of their sentences, citing goodwill and ties with the Vatican amid recent U.S. policy shifts.
- On Thursday night, Cuba's government announced it will release 51 prisoners in the coming days, citing goodwill and close ties with the Vatican; The Ministry stated all have served significant portions of their sentences with good conduct.
- This release follows a pattern as the government has granted 9,905 pardons since 2010 and The Ministry noted 10,000 prisoners were freed over the past three years.
- While the government has not identified the 51 prisoners, Prisoners Defenders reported 1,214 political prisoners in Cuba as of February 2026, making inclusion unclear.
- The announcement arrived Thursday, one day after President Joe Biden’s administration announced intent to lift the United States' terrorism designation on Cuba, potentially recalibrating diplomatic dynamics with the Vatican.
- Amid these diplomatic shifts, President Trump commented that the Cuban government is "in a big deal of trouble" and suggested a "friendly takeover of Cuba.
23 Articles
23 Articles
By Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN en Español The Government of Cuba announced this Thursday that it will release 51 people deprived of their liberty in the coming days, within the framework of an agreement with the Vatican. In a statement, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the beneficiaries have served “a significant part” of their sentences and “have maintained good behavior in prison.” The Cuban authorities explained that this is a “s…
Cuba to release 51 prisoners in Vatican-brokered deal
HAVANA, March 12 - Cuba said on Thursday it will release 51 prisoners in the coming days under an agreement with the Vatican, at a time the Communist government has come under increasing pressure from the United States to reform its one-party rule. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Associated Press News
Cuba will release 51 people from prison in an unexpected move
Cuba’s government says it will release 51 people from prisons in an unexpected move. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the release in the upcoming days stems from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican.
Cuba announced Thursday night the early release "in the next few days" of 51 prisoners as a sign of "good will" towards the Vatican, as reported by the Foreign Ministry of the island in a statement. The announcement comes at a time of growing tensions between Havana and Washington. The Vatican has often acted as a mediator and channel of dialogue between the two countries and played a key role in the thaw of relations between Cuba and the United…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
