Overview
- The release process, which began Friday, saw more than 20 inmates leave Havana’s La Lima prison with discharge papers, and early releases involved people convicted of ordinary crimes.
- Officials said they used offense type, time served, conduct and health to select cases, and they excluded serious offenses such as murder, sexual assault, drug crimes, theft, illegal cattle slaughter and crimes against state authority.
- It remains unclear whether political detainees are included, with the US State Department watching the rollout and rights groups saying hundreds remain jailed for nonviolent dissent.
- The step follows recent contacts with the United States and Vatican engagement that preceded a mid-March release of 51 inmates, continuing the Church’s long-running role as a mediator in prisoner cases.
- This is the fifth such pardon wave since 2011, bringing the total freed above 11,000, and early releases reunited families, including 46-year-old Albis Gainza who left prison after serving half of a six-year theft sentence.