The Cuban regime has rescinded the parole of political prisoner Jaime Alcides Firdó Rodríguez, who was released on January 19, 2025, following an agreement mediated by the Vatican. Firdó Rodríguez had been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the large-scale peaceful protests that erupted across Cuba in July 2021. As of April 1, he remains detained at the Capri police unit in Havana, awaiting transfer back to prison, according to reports from the legal advisory center Cubalex on social media.
Firdó Rodríguez's mother revealed to the organization that her son had been summoned multiple times by a State Security officer named Ariel, who attempted to recruit him as an informant. The political prisoner refused to comply. "Upon his refusal, he was threatened with having his parole revoked," Yuneisy Rodríguez García stated in a video.
To date, the family of the detainee has not received any official documentation explaining the reasons behind the parole revocation or evidence of any breach of the established terms. "This complete lack of transparency deepens the arbitrariness of the process," Cubalex denounced. "They revoked my son because they claim there is a complaint against him, yet they refuse to disclose who lodged it or why," his mother explained.
This incident marks the first instance of parole revocation since the regime began releasing prisoners in January, following the Biden administration's decision to exclude Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In March, Cuba's Supreme People's Court announced the completion of the process after the "release" of 553 inmates, with the vice president of the court asserting that the procedure was "successfully" concluded and divided into two phases: 378 requests approved in January and 175 in February.
However, the measure did not constitute a full release. Authorities emphasized that those granted parole received an "early release" and continue to serve their sentences under specific conditions. Among the control measures for released individuals is the mandatory regular appearance before a judge and the compliance with additional sanctions. Failure to adhere to these conditions could result in the revocation of benefits and a return to imprisonment.
Data compiled by the organization Justicia 11J indicates that 202 of those released are political prisoners. A list details each of their names. A significant number of those released are common inmates. Although there are no official figures to determine the exact proportion, testimonies suggest that the majority of those benefiting from the regime's measure were not prisoners of conscience.
The Cuban government merely stated that the 553 individuals had been convicted of "various crimes" without specifying the types of offenses committed. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights raised the figure with new data, indicating that only 212 of those released are political prisoners.
Key Questions About Parole and Political Prisoners in Cuba
Why was Jaime Alcides Firdó Rodríguez's parole revoked?
Firdó Rodríguez's parole was reportedly revoked after he refused to become an informant for State Security. Despite threats, he declined, leading to threats of revocation and eventual action.
What conditions must be met for parolees in Cuba?
Parolees in Cuba must regularly appear before a judge and adhere to additional sanctions. Any failure to comply with these conditions can result in revocation of parole and a return to prison.
How many political prisoners were released in Cuba's recent parole process?
According to Justicia 11J, 202 political prisoners were released during the recent parole process. However, the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights highlights that only 212 of the total released are political prisoners.