Cuba Begins Release of Over 500 Prisoners, Including Prominent Dissident José Daniel Ferrer

The prisoner releases follow negotiations with the Vatican and coincide with the U.S. decision to lift Cuba's terrorism sponsor designation.

José Daniel Ferrer, a high-profile Cuban dissident, has been released from prison and returned home to his family in Santiago province.
The Cuban government plans to release 553 prisoners as part of a deal facilitated by the Vatican, with around 30 individuals already freed in recent days.
The U.S. announced its intent to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list, paving the way for potential economic engagement after decades of embargo.
Ferrer, a long-time opposition leader and founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, was jailed for his role in the 2021 anti-government protests and has vowed to continue advocating for democracy.
Analysts suggest Cuba’s staggered release of prisoners may act as leverage to ensure the deal is upheld by the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump.