After a grueling 10-day hunger strike demanding an interview with Cuban prison authorities, Professor Pedro Albert Sánchez has returned home. He was granted a one-year extrapenal license, as confirmed by his wife, Ana Elvis Amaya Leyva, during a live Facebook broadcast. She shared that the political prisoner is now with his son and will soon undergo medical treatments following a specialized evaluation.
The 67-year-old professor, who is battling prostate cancer, initiated the hunger strike to push for dialogue with the regime that has continually ignored his pleas, according to his wife. His release from the 1580 prison in San Miguel del Padrón has been hailed by numerous Cuban activists as a significant victory in the ongoing fight for political prisoners' freedom.
A Glimmer of Hope in a Dire Situation
"Amidst the pain, a piece of good news, a ray of hope. To all those who fought for his release, thank you. Together, we are always stronger in confronting the dictatorship. Pedro exemplifies this strength, the ability to mobilize, and the pursuit of justice," expressed activist Carolina Barrero on Facebook.
Social media personality Yamilka Laffita, known as Lara Crofs, described the professor as "one of the most dedicated individuals to freedom I've met in Cuba. It should be noted that he should never have been imprisoned. His only crime was envisioning a free and democratic Cuba."
Continued Struggles for Justice
Cuban activist Arián Cruz Álvarez, popularly known as Tata Poet, also welcomed Albert Sánchez's release, clarifying that "he was not liberated; he is still serving a combined five-year sentence for the fabricated charges of public disorder and contempt."
In January 2023, the Cuban professor was sentenced to five years of restricted freedom by the Diez de Octubre Municipal People's Court due to his involvement in the July 11, 2021, protests. Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience and urged President Miguel Díaz-Canel to release him immediately and unconditionally.