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

<p>Havana makes a Holy Week ‘humanitarian’ gesture as Russian tanker is allowed to reach oil-starved island</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>Cuban authorities have begun to free prisoners after announcing they would pardon 2,010 inmates, the second release in less than a month as the country faces heightened US pressure.</p><p>More than 20 inmates emerged from La Lima penitentiary in east Havana on Friday, holding their release papers, crying and hugging relatives who had been waiting for them all morning.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/03/cuba-to-release-pardon-prisoners-us-fuel-blockade">Continue reading...</a>