Cuba's government published a list of 553 prisoners granted freedom under an amnesty announced in January, according to a Reuters report. The names appeared in Cuba's official gazette on May 25, 2026, marking the first public accounting of individuals released under the measure.

The amnesty follows months of negotiations between the Cuban government and the Vatican, with Pope Francis playing a mediating role. Cuba announced the prisoner release in January 2026 as part of broader diplomatic efforts, but until now had not disclosed which detainees would benefit. The publication of names provides clarity for families and international observers who have pressed for transparency about political prisoners and those detained during anti-government protests in recent years.

The 553 individuals named in the gazette include prisoners convicted of various offenses, though the document does not specify the original charges or sentences for each person. Cuban authorities have not confirmed whether the list includes protesters arrested during the July 2021 demonstrations, when thousands took to the streets in the largest anti-government protests in decades. Human rights organizations have estimated that hundreds of people arrested during those protests remained in detention, with some receiving sentences of up to 20 years.

"The publication of the list is a step toward transparency," the Reuters report notes, though it adds that advocacy groups continue to call for the release of all individuals they consider political prisoners.