The Cuban government has announced the release of 2,010 convicts for the Holy Week of Easter.

The Cuban government announced the ‘humanitarian’ gesture on Thursday to mark the Easter celebrations worldwide.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the pardon was based on a careful review of the prisoners’ situations, considering factors such as good behaviour while in prison, having served a large part of their sentence, and their health conditions.

Those released include younger detainees, both male and female, as well as elderly prisoners aged over 60.

However, individuals convicted of serious offences such as sexual assault, violent pedophilia, murder, armed robbery, and crimes against state authority were not considered for the pardon.

This marks the second prison release in 2026 for Cuba, following the release of 14 inmates in March, and it is also the fifth pardon since 2011. 

This development brings the total number of people released from the Cuban prison to 11,000.