On Good Friday, families gathered outside prisons in Havana as authorities began releasing more than two thousand prisoners in what was described as a humanitarian gesture ahead of Holy Week. Emotional reunions brought joy and relief to many, as relatives embraced loved ones freed after months or years of separation. However, human rights groups expressed concern that few, if any, of those released were individuals detained for political reasons, notably those involved in mass protests in 2021. The releases come amid economic hardship and fuel shortages caused largely by the oil blockade imposed by the USA. Cubans were offered a brief moment of relief when Donald Trump allowed a Russian ship carrying enough fuel for ten days to reach the island; a second tanker is on the way. While the release of the prisoners brought hope to many families, questions remain about broader justice, transparency, and long-term change within the prison system and wider society.