HAVANA, Cuba – Cuban authorities have released from jail two popular dissidents who had requested their continued detention until other opposition leaders were freed.
Hector Maseda and Angel Moya were freed Saturday, the latest opposition figures to be released from jail in the 2003 crackdown of 75 dissidents.
A week ago, the Raul Castro administration agreed to release Moya, but he had refused, stating that he preferred ailing dissidents to be set free first.
Maseda also declined his early release, urging that he be granted pardon rather than parole.
But prison authorities said that they could no longer keep them jailed.
“I have left prison against my will,” Maseda told reporters in Havana shortly after his release. “I never would have accepted leaving jail on parole.”
Moya was released shortly afterwards, stating that he, too, was kicked out of jail. (CMC)
