He prisoner Cuban Ernesto Borges Pérez was released this Thursday After staying almost 27 years prisoncondemned for “espionage attempt.”
Borges, who was 32 years old and was Captain of the Ministry of Interior (Minint) at the time of his arrestwas arrested on July 17, 1998.
A few months later it would be sentenced to 30 years in prison for a military court Under the accusation of Try to facilitate an American diplomat information from 26 agents that the Cuban government planned to infiltrate in the United States and other countries, refers to the agency EFE.
The news of his liberation was confirmed by the Spanish environment, to whom Borges said he was happy For being able to be with his family again.
“I feel very excited, euphoric and also strange after being so imprisoned, three months were missing for the age of 27. I feel happy,” he told EFE From his family home in Havana a few hours after leaving the combined prison of the East.
He Exanalist of the Minint Counterintelligence Directorate He said that in prison he received the Accompaniment of Catholic priests and evangelical churcheswhich “helped him a lot” and “opened the world of faith.”
“Today I am lay-catholic, I learned to be humble no longer to fill myself with hate,” said the 59-year-old express.
In addition, he said that in the solitude of the prison he created his “inner world”: “I read a lot, I studied English and tried to overcome myself.”
They release political prisoner in #Cuba After 27 years in jail
The Cuban Ernesto Borges Pérez was accused of a attempt at espionage and sentenced by a 30 -year prison military court. (mg)
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– Spanish DW (@DW_ESPANOL) April 25, 2025
About his plans after liberation, Borges said he has among his priorities Process his departure from Cuba to the United States To operate from cataracts.
He also wants Share with your father and brothers, and resent your only daughterwho resides in Canada and who, in his own words, have not hugged 21 years ago EFE.
The statements cited by the Spanish agency do not refer to the conditions of their imprisonment, but activists and opposition organizations, as well as unofficial media, say that in prison suffered serious health problems – among them advanced cataracts and inguinal hernia— and was exposed to severe and precarious conditions.
According to those sources, In October 2020 Borges received his first pass To visit his family, after 22 years in jail. On that occasion, they say, he was not allowed to make public statements.
So far, the Cuban authorities – this year they released plus 500 prisoners with Vatican mediation– They have not publicly spoken about the release of Borges.
