Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly denied on Friday any connection between the release of 51 prisoners announced by the Cuban regime and ongoing dialogues with the United States. This statement was made during an appearance before regime-affiliated media and government officials.
When questioned about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announcement regarding the upcoming release of 51 inmates, Díaz-Canel emphasized that this decision was not influenced by external pressures. The official note had previously highlighted that the release was made "in the spirit of goodwill and closer relations between the Cuban state and the Vatican."
Addressing the inquiry, Díaz-Canel stated, "I will answer you, it is a sovereign practice, no one imposes it on us; we decided it independently. It's not an isolated act; we have done this at other times. The note even provides instances of when we have engaged in this sovereign practice, and we are doing it now for the reasons explained in the note."
The Cuban leader further explained that the measure aligns with what he described as a practice of the Cuban judicial system: "In this case, note that it acknowledges these are individuals who have maintained good behavior."
Anticipating criticism following the announcement of the releases, he said, "As always, be prepared now for the media intoxication, the attempts to link this to other events, the distortion of realities, but we have made a sovereign decision, and there it is."
The announcement came on Thursday when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the regime would release 51 prisoners as part of exchanges with the Vatican. The official statement noted that the prisoners being released had served part of their sentences and demonstrated good conduct. However, the authorities did not disclose the names of the prisoners or clarify if any political prisoners were among them.
Independent organizations have expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in these processes. The platform Justicia 11J has documented at least 760 individuals imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba, highlighting a significant number of political prisoners still in Cuban jails.
This announcement occurs amid ongoing interactions between Havana and Washington. Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that Cuban officials have been in talks with U.S. representatives to address bilateral differences and explore potential cooperation areas. These discussions are part of broader negotiations with the United States, initiated by Raúl Castro.
In this context, a high-level meeting was held at the Central Committee headquarters involving the top leadership of the Communist Party and the government. Notably, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" and Raúl Castro's grandson, was present, underscoring the significance of these discussions on U.S.-Cuba relations.
Key Questions about Cuba's Prisoner Release and U.S. Relations
What was the reason given for the release of 51 prisoners in Cuba?
The Cuban government stated that the release was in the spirit of goodwill and closer relations with the Vatican, and emphasized it as a sovereign decision not influenced by external pressures.
Are there political prisoners among those being released?
While the Cuban authorities have not disclosed the names of the prisoners or clarified if any are political prisoners, independent organizations have raised concerns about the transparency of the process.
What is the current state of U.S.-Cuba relations?
Cuban officials have been in discussions with U.S. representatives to address bilateral differences and explore areas of cooperation, as part of broader negotiations initiated by Raúl Castro.