Cuba frees over 2,000 inmates in Holy Week pardon as US tensions rise

Cuba's government announced Thursday that it was pardoning 2,010 prisoners as a "humanitarian" gesture during Holy Week, after pledging in March to release dozens amid heightened US pressure on Havana.

The major announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the fuel-starved island.

The Trump administration has called for change in communist-run Cuba's system of government, and the US president has mused about "taking" the island.

But the two sides have also held talks recently.

"It seems not far-fetched to think that this is a sign that some of the conversation between both governments is advancing. Perhaps slowly, but advancing. To where? Unclear," Michael Bustamante, chair of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, told AFP.

"I think we will also have to see who is included in these releases to have a sense of their potential political significance," he said.

Releasing political prisoners has long been a core US demand in Cuba.

The Cuban government did not identify those who were pardoned nor say what crimes they had committed or when they would be set free.

The presidency said in a statement that the "humanitarian and sovereign gesture" was based on the nature of the crimes, good behavior in prison, health reasons and time served.

It said the individuals being freed include young people, women and prisoners over 60 years old who are scheduled for early release within the next six months to a year.

- 'Change their system' -

The government previously announced on March 12 that it would free 51 prisoners as a sign of "goodwill" toward the Vatican, which has often acted as a mediator between Washington and Havana.

A day later, President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed that talks had taken place between US and Cuban officials.

The Cuban presidency said Thursday that it was the fifth time since 2011 that it had pardoned prisoners, amounting to more than 11,000 people.

It said the decision was "taking place within the context of the religious observances of Holy Week -- a customary practice within our criminal justice system and a reflection of the humanitarian legacy of the Revolution."

Foreigners and Cuban citizens residing abroad are among those being pardoned, the presidency said.

The government said those released would not include people who committed murder, sex assault, drug-related crimes, theft, illegal slaughter of livestock and crimes against authority.

The pardons come as Russia announced Thursday it would send a second oil tanker to Cuba.

"One is tempted to draw the conclusion or wonder if the Trump administration's decision to let in a Russian ship... and maybe another one, may or may not be related here," Bustamante said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American and vociferous critic of Havana's government, told Fox News on Tuesday that Cuba needs economic and political reforms.

"You cannot fix their economy if you don't change their system of government," Rubio said. "But they're in a lot of trouble, there's no doubt about it, and we'll have more news on that fairly soon."

AFP