More than 100 political prisoners released in Cuba after negotiations with the US and the Vatican
More than a hundred political prisoners have been released in Cuba in the last five days, after The Cuban regime announced the gradual release of 553 people “sanctioned for various crimes,” in the context of negotiations with the United States government and mediation by the Vatican.
According to the registry of the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), until 4:00 pm (Cuba time) this Sunday, at least 114 people imprisoned for political reasons were released from prison since The releases began on January 15.
Among the people released this Sunday is the opposition Tania Echevarría Menendezfrom the Ladies in White movement, who had been sentenced by the regime to six years in prison for participating in the anti-government protests registered on July 11 and 12, 2021 in some 60 Cuban cities and towns.
Berta Soler, leader of the women’s group, reported in a video on social networks that Echevarría Menéndez is the first Lady in White released from prison in this process, but they are still in prison Sissi Abascal, Sayli Navarro and Aymara Nieto Muñoz.
In the last few hours, the regime has released another group of people detained for political reasons from jail, as recorded by different independent organizations.
The vice president of the Supreme Court, Maricela Sosa Ravelo, warned that the current process “This is not an amnesty or a pardon”since these entail the total extinction of the sentence, but rather “early release benefits.”
Sosa Ravelo confirmed that the Cuban regime had granted since Wednesday 127 early releases: 121 were for parole and six for extra-criminal license.
Justice 11J stressed this Sunday that “this means that those released from prison must meet requirements and conditions imposed by the authorities, including ‘demonstrating good behavior’, and could be arrested again if the regime so decides.”
Among those released are several political prisoners, including opposition leaders. José Daniel Ferrer García and Felix Navarro Rodriguezthe shepherd Lorenzo Rosales Fajardothe young Luis Robles Elizástigui and 9/11 protesters.
Organizations such as Justicia 11J, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights and Cubalex keep updated records of political prisoners who have been released, with the aim of “providing accurate, reliable and accessible information to citizens.”
Campaign demands release of all political prisoners without conditions
A social media campaign promoted by activists, opponents and human rights organizations has made a call for the release of all political prisoners in Cuba without conditionsgiven the partial release that the regime is carrying out.
The NGO Prisoners Defenders has risen to 1,161 the number of political prisoners in Cuba at the end of 2024.
Context of the releases
This January 14, shortly after the Biden Administration announced the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the suspension of Title III of the Helms-Burton Actthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (MINREX) announced the imminent release of 553 peopleconvicted of “various crimes” on the island.
MINREX said that the releases occurred “in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025” and after negotiations with the Catholic Church, the Vatican and the mediation of Pope Francis.
According to the official statement, Miguel Díaz-Canel sent a letter to the Supreme Pontiff to inform him of the decision.
The organization Amnesty International (AI)for its part, demanded the regime immediately release all political prisoners in Cuba.
“Given the announcement by the Cuban government to grant penal benefits to 553 people, we demand the immediate release of all people unjustly imprisoned for exercising their rights in Cuba, particularly people prisoners of conscience,” the organization declared in a statement.
List of released political prisoners
These are the political prisoners released until Sunday, January 19, 2025 (4:00 pm, local time), according to the registry of the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights.
1- Reynel Pupo Anaya
2- Rolando González Arevalo
3- Nidia Bienes Paseiro
4- José Antonio González Guerrero
5- Aleandry Lettuce Rush
6- Tania Echevarría Menéndez
7- Adonis Garvizo Otero
8- Dainier Flores Oliva
9- Yohandry Ripoll Smith
10- Edel Osvaldo López Nodarse
11- Iván Hernández Troya
12- Pedro Nicolás León
13- Maikel González Mura
14- Jorge Serrano Alfonso
15- Andy Ortega Murgado
16- Michel Mariel Suárez Muñoz
17- Jaime Alcide Firdó Rodríguez
18- Rafael Cutiño Bazan
19- Juan Alberto Matos Masó
20- Mariurka Díaz Calvo
21- Ismel Frank Guanche Acosta
22- Santiago Vázquez León
23- Rodennis Ávila Corujo
24- José Antonio Gómez León
25- Adel de la Torre Hernández
26- John Luis Machado Marrero
27- Jorge Alexander Ilufro Pére
28- Noel Martínez Tápanez
29- Miner Chaviano Mastache
30- Francisco Rafael Villa Tamari
31- Adrián Rodríguez Morera
32- Joel Díaz Hernández
33- Leylandis Puentes Vargas
34- Yoslen Domínguez Victores
35- Denis Hernández Ramírez
36- Roberto Jesús Marín Fernández
37- Robert Michel Marín Fernández
38- Adrián Echegoyen Espiñeira
39- Rosa Jany Millo Espinosa
40- Félix Navarro Rodríguez
41- Frandy González León
42- Brenda Díaz García
43- Henry Osmar Sánchez Aparicio
44- Roberto Sosa Cabrera
45- Yoel Consuegra Ávila
46- Yoennis Domínguez de la Rosa
47- Yeriel Cruz Pérez
48- Yuniesky Jackson Menu
49- Marcos Antonio Pintueles Marrero
50- Omar Hernández Calzadilla
51- Yuniel Jorge Fleitas
52- Daisy Rodríguez Alfonso
53- Rolando Fernández Osorio
54- Lázaro Rodríguez Ávila
55- Liván Mediaceja Heredia
56- Frank Ernesto Trujillo Hervis
57- Alexander Paredes Collado
58- Emyoslán Román Rodríguez
59- José Manuel Arias Campos
60- Maykel Fleites Rivalta
61- Yismel Alfonso Oliva
62- Gilberto Castillo Castillo
63- Dariel Rosa Pérez
64- Manuel Díaz Rodríguez
65- Yusnaira González Pérez
66- Jorge Luis Liriano Álvarez
67- Johanner Pérez Gómez
68- Humberto Elías Monrabal Camps
69- Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo
70- Abdiel Cedeño Martínez
71- Yoandry Reinier Sayú Silva
72- Armando Lázaro Merlan Pérez
73- Alien Molina Castell
74- Jorge Luis Lugones Lara
75- Gloria María López Valle
76- Heriberto Téllez Reynosa
77- Daniel Antonio Díaz Gálvez
78- Juvier Jiménez Gómez
79- Yunior Rodríguez Rivero
80- Julián Manuel Mazola Beltrán
81- Uziel David Abreu Martínez
82- Iris Belkis Oduardo Rodríguez
83- Carlos Manuel Pupo Rodríguez
84- José Daniel Ferrer García
85- Jorge Luis Salazar Brioso
86- Lisdiany Rodríguez Isaac
87- Luis Robles Elizásteguis
88- Orlando Pineda Martínez
89- Marlon Brando Díaz Oliva
90- Ciro Alexis Casanova Pérez
91- Juan Yanier Antomarchi Núñez
92- Randy Arteaga Rivera
93- Frank Daniel Roig Sotolongo
94- Yandier García Labrada
95- Eduin Rodríguez Fonseca
96- Andro Ledesma Prieto
97- Liliana Oropesa Ferrer
98- Endris Fuentes Zamora
99- Javier González Fernández
100- Arturo Valentín Rivero
101- Rowland Jesús Castillo Castro
102- Dariel Cruz García
103- Donaida Pérez Paseiro
104- Mailene Noguera Santiesteban
105- Yessica Coimbra Noriega
106- Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista
107- Liván Hernández Sosa
108- Katia Beirut Rodríguez
109- José Miguel Gómez Mondeja
110- Jorge Gabriel Arruebarruena León
111- Lisdany Rodríguez Isaac
112- Magdiel Rodríguez García
113- Rogelio Lázaro Domínguez Pérez
114- César Adrián Delgado Correa
