The Cuban government has issued a large-scale pardon for 2,010 prisoners in observance of Holy Week, according to reports from Cuban media outlets.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the decision was based on the exemplary behavior and health conditions of the inmates during their time in correctional facilities. The pardon reflects a humanitarian gesture aligned with the religious significance of the period.
The list of 2,010 pardoned individuals includes the following categories:
- Youth and women
- Adults over the age of 60
- Inmates nearing the end of their prison sentences
- Foreign nationals and Cuban citizens residing abroad
The official statement emphasized that individuals convicted of sexual violence, murder, drug-related crimes, theft, animal cruelty, child abuse, and crimes against the state were strictly excluded from the pardon decree. This measure ensures that those released do not pose a significant risk to public safety or national security.
Historically, the Cuban government has utilized mass pardons as a diplomatic and humanitarian tool, often coinciding with significant religious events or high-profile international visits. Since 2011, Cuba has pardoned more than 11,000 individuals in total, maintaining a tradition of periodic clemency for selected groups of the prison population.