Cuban security forces have taken brutal measures to suppress a prison riot, NGOs and opposition figures reported this evening, DPA reported
The prisoners are said to have been protesting against poor conditions and for political freedom at the “Canaleta“ prison in the central part of the island. José Daniel Ferrer, an opposition leader living in exile in the United States, posted videos on social media that allegedly show the protests. Booing and shouts of “Homeland and life!“ - a slogan from the 2021 protests - can be heard.
Ambulances are said to have been deployed to the scene. Unconfirmed reports suggest two people have died and several others have been injured.
Relatives of prisoners gathered outside the detention center, according to the Madrid-based organization “Defenders of Prisoners“. Police are believed to have used pepper spray and rubber bullets to quell the unrest.
The Mexico-based Center for Documentation of Cuban Prisons reported that several people were taken to hospital with head injuries or as a result of the use of pepper spray.
Cuba is in one of its deepest economic, social and political crises since the 1959 revolution.
The situation has recently been exacerbated by US President Donald Trump's policy towards the island. After Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Cuba's oil suppliers, the country officially no longer receives the crude oil from abroad. Washington hopes this will force Havana to carry out economic and political reforms.
Venezuela's legislature has approved an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others, the Associated Press reported. The agency notes that this can be seen as an admission that the government has been holding hundreds of people in prison for political reasons.
The approval marks a sharp turn for the South American country, whose authorities have denied for decades that they hold political prisoners. It is the latest twist in policy since a stunning US military raid last month in the capital Caracas to capture then-President Nicolas Maduro.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who proposed the bill late last month, signed the measure hours later, outlining the conditions and exceptions for people who would be granted amnesty after months or years in detention.
“It is not perfect, but it is a big step forward. It will alleviate the suffering of many Venezuelans,“ said opposition lawmaker Nora Brajo.
The measure is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others who have been targeted by the ruling party for the past 27 years. It is the latest policy shift for Venezuela, where the government has quickly aligned itself with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, including last month when it revised a law on the oil industry.
The Venezuela-based human rights group “Foro Penal“ estimates that more than 600 people are being held in the country for political reasons.
In the days following Maduro's capture, Rodriguez's government announced it would release a significant number of prisoners. But relatives and human rights groups have criticized the slow pace of releases.