Cuba begins to free more than 2,000 prisoners as US eases fuel blockade

April 3, 2026

TL;DR

Cuba announced a pardon for 2,010 prisoners as a "humanitarian" gesture for Holy Week.
Over 20 inmates have already been released from La Lima penitentiary in Havana.
The announcement comes shortly after the US eased a de facto oil blockade by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude oil to Cuba.
Releasing political prisoners has been a key US demand, and recent talks have occurred between the two nations.
The Cuban government stated the pardon criteria include crime nature, good behavior, health, and time served, excluding serious crimes like murder and sexual assault.
This is the fifth prisoner pardon by Cuba since 2011, totaling over 11,000 individuals.
Russia announced it would send a second oil tanker to Cuba on the same day.
US officials, like Marco Rubio, have stated that Cuba needs economic and political reforms to fix its economy.

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