Cuba Begins Releasing Prisoners Following Vatican-mediated Deal and U.S. Announcement on Terrorism Designation

Cuba has started releasing prisoners as part of a broader agreement facilitated by the Vatican, just a day after President Joe Biden’s administration announced its intention to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

On Wednesday, more than a dozen individuals, including those arrested during the historic 2021 protests, were freed. Among the released was Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, a 24-year-old tattooist detained during the protests and sentenced to four years in prison for attacks and public disorder. Batista, who was released from a prison in Camagüey, shared that eight other men were freed alongside her.

The U.S. government formally notified Congress on Tuesday about its intent to remove Cuba from the terrorism blacklist as part of a diplomatic deal with the Cuban government, facilitated by the Vatican. The Cuban authorities have committed to releasing 553 prisoners, including many political detainees, before President Biden’s term ends on January 20. Cuban officials also informed Pope Francis about the release process, which will occur gradually and consider legal and humanitarian factors.