Cuba’s communist authorities on Friday began a prisoner release negotiated with the Vatican and confirmed that talks were underway with the United States amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump.
The Justicia 11J rights group said it had been able to confirm the release of two people jailed for taking part in major anti-government protests on July 11, 2021.
Cuba said Thursday that it would release 51 prisoners after talks with the Holy See, which has in the past acted as mediator between Havana and Washington.
Havana has described the prisoner releases as a “goodwill” gesture to the Vatican.
AFP witnessed the arrival home of Adael Leyva Diaz, 29, who was serving a 13-year sentence, and Ronald García Sanchez, 33, sentenced to 14 years.
Both live in the Havana suburb of Arroyo Naranjo.
According to Justice 11J, which tracks arrests since the 2021 protests, there are at least 760 political prisoners behind bars in Cuba.
The unusual show of clemency came hours after President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed that his government was in talks with the United States.
Trump has said Cuba will be “next” on his agenda after Iran and the US overthrow of Cuba’s top ally, Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.
Speaking to AFP, a White House official on Friday repeated Trump’s claim that Cuba is a “failing nation” and that a deal would its government “would be very easily made.”
The Republican leader has placed the impoverished island under a US oil blockade, strangling its fuel supply on the basis of what he called the “extraordinary threat” posed by Cuba to the United States.
This comes on top of a six-decade-old US trade embargo.
During a meeting with top Cuban officials, broadcast live on national television, Diaz-Canel said Havana was negotiating with Washington, but gave little away about the nature of the talks.
“Cuban officials recently held discussions with representatives of the United States government,” he said, confirming negotiations first revealed by Trump in mid-January.
“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions — through dialogue — to the bilateral differences,” he added.
*
Email *
Website
