Cuba pardons 2,010 prisoners in Holy Week gesture

Insights

• Cuba announced pardons for 2,010 prisoners as a humanitarian gesture tied to Holy Week.
• Authorities said the pardoned include foreigners, women, elderly and young people but gave no release dates or crime details.
• The government said releases were based on crime characteristics, good behavior, time served and health status.
• Officials did not specify whether protesters or those convicted of terrorism or public disorder were included.
• Activist group Prisoners Defended recorded 1,214 people jailed for political reasons in Cuba as of February, while the government denies holding political prisoners.
• Cuban officials linked the announcement to a period of U.S. pressure and restrictions on fuel exports that they say have caused blackouts, and said this is the fifth mass release since 2011 totaling more than 11,000 freed.