Cuban political prisoner released amid high-stakes US negotiations
Cuban humanitarian groups posted video on Thursday, May 14 of a political prisoner being released amid pressure from the United States and high stakes diplomatic negotiations.
Video circulated online of Sissi Abascal Zamora hugging loved ones outside the La Bellotex women's prison.
The release comes a day after USA TODAY's exclusive report about two other Cuban political prisoners who were given the ultimatum of exile or jail after a secret meeting between U.S. and Cuban officials in Havana. The two said they chose exile but remain behind bars.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights released the footage of the woman leaving after her incarceration of nearly five years. She was sentenced to six years in prison for participating in the July 11, 2021 protests in Matanzas. She was the youngest of the "Ladies in White" prisoners and famously carried a sheet scrawled with, "Patria y Vida" or (homeland and life) on it.
The outlet CiberCuba reported the release was facilitated by prominent Miami developer Santiago Álvarez who heads the Judicial Rescue Foundation on the condition she leave the country.
Coinciding with the timing of the May 14 release, CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Havana to meet with Cuban officials, CIA officials confirmed.
"Today, Director Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials, including Raulito Rodriguez Castro, Minister of Interior Lazaro Alvarez Casas, and the head of Cuban intelligence services in Havana to personally deliver President Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes," the CIA officials said in a statement.
"During the meeting, Director Ratcliffe and Cuban officials discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues, all against the backdrop that Cuba can no longer be a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.”
Cuban officials later confirmed the spy director's visit in an official statement.
"Cuba does not constitute a threat to the national security of the U.S., nor are there legitimate reasons to include it on the list of countries that, allegedly, sponsor terrrorism," the statement from Havana said.
On May 12, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said he considered Cuba a threat to the nation's national security in testimony before a Congressional panel.
The diplomatic talks came a day after the State Department put in writing a $100 million offer for humanitarian aid to be distributed by the Catholic Church and other aid groups.
Early on May 14, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, said the nation was considering the offer and called for de-escalation as the country handled an increasingly dire energy crisis caused by the blockade of fuel.