Cuba to Release 51 Prisoners in Move Linked to the Vatican

Police guard a street on the second anniversary of anti-government protests in Havana, on July 11, 2023. Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty ImagesCuban authorities announced Thursday that they plan to release 51 people from prison in the coming days, portraying the decision as a gesture linked to the communist regime’s relationship with the Vatican.“In the ​spirit of goodwill and the close and fluid relations between the Cuban state and the ⁠Vatican, with which communication has historically been maintained regarding the review and release of prisoners, the Cuban government has decided ​to release 51 people sentenced to imprisonment in the coming days,” the nation’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “All have served a ​significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct in prison.”