Cuba releases 2,010 prisoners amid total blackout tied to Trump ‘energy siege’
HAVANA, CUBA: Cuba has announced the release of more than 2,000 prisoners, a sweeping move that comes as the country faces a deepening energy and economic crisis.
The Cuban Embassy in Washington confirmed on Friday, April 3, that 2,010 inmates were granted pardons under constitutional provisions.
The releases follow weeks of mounting pressure linked to fuel shortages and widespread blackouts across the island. Cuban authorities described the decision as a humanitarian measure, timed with Holy Week.
🚨🇨🇺As part of the process for granting prison benefits established by law and in accordance with Article 90, Section II, of the Constitution of the Republic, it was decided to release 2,010 inmates through a pardon approved by the Government of Cuba.
— Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) April 3, 2026
This humanitarian and…
Humanitarian pardons exclude violent offenders
According to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, the pardons were issued after a review of inmates’ conduct, health, and legal status. Those released include younger prisoners, women, elderly individuals, and some foreign nationals.
Officials said individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and violent robbery, were excluded from the measure. Repeat offenders were also not eligible.
The government indicated the process was designed to reduce pressure on prison facilities while maintaining public safety standards.
Total darkness as electrical grid fails
The prisoner release comes amid a severe national energy crisis. Earlier this week, Cuba experienced a near-total collapse of its electrical grid, leaving large parts of the country without power.
Authorities have attributed the outages to fuel shortages affecting power generation. The situation has disrupted daily life for millions and triggered localized protests in several regions.
US officials have acknowledged limited fuel deliveries in recent days under what they described as humanitarian considerations, while broader restrictions remain in place.
Trump’s ‘Cuba’s Next’ rhetoric fuels panic
The development also follows recent remarks by Donald Trump regarding US policy toward Cuba. In recent statements, Trump indicated that the administration is closely monitoring developments on the island, though he did not outline specific policy changes.
President Trump: “Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided “Security Services” for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE! Most of those Cubans are DEAD from last weeks U.S.A. attack, and Venezuela doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/y613FsT4mr
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 11, 2026
The US has continued to enforce restrictions targeting Cuba’s energy imports, including measures affecting third-party shipments.
Analysts note that the prisoner release marks one of the largest such actions by the Cuban government in recent years, as authorities respond to internal pressures and shifting external dynamics.
