The Government of Cuba has decided to release, in the coming days, 51 persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty. This decision is made in a spirit of goodwill and reflects the close relations between the Cuban State and the Vatican—with which communication regarding processes of review and release has historically been maintained—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) reported today in an official statement.
The note from the Cuban Foreign Ministry specifies that all the beneficiaries have served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct while in prison.
This decision constitutes a customary practice within the Cuban justice system and has characterized the humanitarian trajectory of the Revolution; on this occasion, it coincides with the approaching religious celebrations of Holy Week.
Given its importance, we present the Minrex statement in its entirety below.
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In a spirit of goodwill and reflecting the close and fluid relations between the Cuban State and the Vatican — with which communication regarding processes of review and release for persons deprived of liberty has historically been maintained — the Government of Cuba has decided to release, in the coming days, 51 persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty. All of these individuals have served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct while in prison.
Since 2010, the Cuban government has granted pardons to 9,905 inmates; meanwhile, over the last three years — as part of standard Cuban practice and pursuant to the provisions of our legislation — another 10,000 persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty were released through various other forms of relief. This sovereign decision constitutes a customary practice within our criminal justice system and has characterized the humanitarian trajectory of the Revolution—a trajectory that, on this occasion, coincides with the approaching religious observances of Holy Week.
Havana, March 12, 2026
