After a year of opaque selective releases in Cuba, Amnesty International said:
“The Cuban authorities have an obligation to guarantee the full and unconditional freedom of all prisoners of conscience. Sayli Navarro Álvarez, Félix Navarro, Loreto Hernández García, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Roberto Pérez Fonseca, Maykel Castillo Pérez (Maykel ‘Osorbo’), and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara must not spend another day in prison. The authorities must also put an end, once and for all, to detentions for political reasons,” said Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas.
Sayli Navarro Álvarez, Félix Navarro, Loreto Hernández García, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Roberto Pérez Fonseca, Maykel Castillo Pérez (Maykel ‘Osorbo’), and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara must not spend another day in prison.”
Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas.
The release process announced by the Cuban authorities on 14 January 2025 was marked by opacity, lack of public information, absence of clear criteria and the use of arbitrary conditions, as well as a devastating psychological impact on families. Moreover, the process did not include any state recognition of the abuses committed during arrests and convictions, nor did it provide guarantees of non-repetition.
“Some of the people released in 2025 were forced into exile, while others were returned to prison, exposing the persistence of deeply entrenched authoritarian practices and the absence of guarantees to exercise human rights inside the country without fear of reprisals.”
“Although this process resulted in the release of at least 211 people detained for political reasons, selective or conditional releases do not replace the authorities’ obligation to end the criminalization of freedom of expression or to guarantee the right to a fair trial.”
“Cuba must free, without conditions, those who never should have been imprisoned. President Díaz-Canel must take an unequivocal decision: end the use of the criminal justice system to silence criticism and punish activism. It is time to put an end to the repression of those who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” Ana Piquer concluded.
Cuba must free, without conditions, those who never should have been imprisoned. President Díaz-Canel must take an unequivocal decision: end the use of the criminal justice system to silence criticism and punish activism.”
Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas.
