Cuba to pardon more than 2,000 prisoners as US eases fuel blockade

Havana calls releases a humanitarian Holy Week gesture as Russian tankers allowed to reach oil-starved island

Cuba has announced plans to pardon 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture during Holy Week, amid heightened US pressure on the government in Havana.

The announcement on Thursday came days after Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude oil to the nation.