Cuba begins prisoner release after mass pardon

Cuban authorities began to free prisoners on Friday after announcing the country would pardon 2,010 inmates, the second release in less than a month as it faces heightened US pressure.

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More than 20 inmates came out of La Lima penitentiary in east Havana, holding their release papers, crying and hugging relatives who had been waiting for them all morning, AFP journalists said.

Albis Gainza, a 46-year-old who had served half of a six-year sentence for robbery, told AFP he was grateful for “this opportunity that they gave us.”

He said he could not sleep after learning he would be released.

“This needs to keep going,” Gainza told AFP, referring to the releases.