On NBC News' "Meet the Press," Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly rejected claims of political prisoners in Cuba and attributed the nation's ongoing crisis to the U.S. embargo. The interview, conducted by journalist Kristen Welker in Havana on April 9, aired in full this past Sunday.
During the discussion, Díaz-Canel dismissed the accusations regarding political prisoners as "a big lie" and "slander." He argued that the notion of imprisoning anyone critical of the revolution is a false narrative.
Welker challenged Díaz-Canel, pointing out the documented existence of over 1,200 political prisoners in Cuba. She highlighted the case of rapper Maykel Osorbo, detained since 2021, whose song "Patria y Vida" became an anthem for the July 11 protests and won two Latin Grammy Awards. Díaz-Canel refused to promise Osorbo's release, maintaining that detainees are held for "vandalism and crimes" rather than protest activities, alleging they are supported by "terrorist organizations and U.S. government agencies."
According to Prisoners Defenders, there were 1,214 political prisoners in Cuba as of late February 2026. Osorbo, imprisoned since May 18, 2021, and sentenced to nine years, was recently moved to Kilo 8 prison in Pinar del Río without prior notice.
U.S. Demands Rejected by Cuban Government
Díaz-Canel dismissed Washington's conditions for advancing bilateral negotiations, which include the release of political prisoners, free elections, recognition of labor unions, and freedom of the press. "No such demands have been made to us. We've made it clear that respect for our political system and constitutional order are non-negotiable with the U.S.," he stated.
Blaming the U.S. embargo for Cuba's severe economic and energy crisis, Díaz-Canel denied any responsibility on the part of the Cuban regime. "This is not the fault of the Cuban government. The answer lies in the ongoing hostility from the U.S. government," he claimed.
Energy Crisis and Foreign Aid
Cuba is enduring power outages lasting up to 30 hours daily, worsened by the cessation of Venezuelan oil supplies following Nicolás Maduro's capture. A Russian tanker recently delivered oil to Matanzas, covering only a third of the island's monthly needs, which Díaz-Canel described as "humanitarian aid."
An excerpt of the interview released by NBC last Thursday revealed Díaz-Canel's discomfort when asked if he would step down to save Cuba. He retorted irritably, "Have you asked any other world leaders that question? Does this question come from you or the U.S. State Department?" He further stated, "The idea of revolutionaries resigning is not in our vocabulary."
Díaz-Canel acknowledged ongoing negotiations between Cuba and the U.S., though he clarified he has not personally spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he does not know. He described the dialogue as "possible but challenging."
Notably, Cuban Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío had openly recognized political prisoners' existence on March 22, 2026, labeling it a non-negotiable internal issue. That month, 51 prisoners were freed following Vatican mediation, and a Holy Week pardon released 2,010 individuals convicted of common crimes, excluding political prisoners entirely.
Understanding Cuba's Political Climate and U.S. Relations
How does Díaz-Canel justify the detention of individuals in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel claims that those imprisoned in Cuba are there for "vandalism and crimes" rather than for protesting, alleging they are funded by "terrorist organizations and U.S. government agencies."
What are the U.S. conditions for negotiations with Cuba?
The U.S. has set conditions such as the release of political prisoners, free elections, recognition of labor unions, and freedom of the press to advance negotiations with Cuba.
What impact has the U.S. embargo had on Cuba, according to Díaz-Canel?
Díaz-Canel blames the U.S. embargo for Cuba's severe economic and energy crisis, denying any responsibility on the part of the Cuban government.