Jose Daniel Ferrer, the leader of one of the largest banned anti-government groups in Cuba, was released two days after a surprise flurry of diplomatic activity involving the communist-run island in the waning days of the Biden administration.

A leading Cuban dissident and activist has been released from jail as part of a wider prisoner release deal between the Cuban government and the United States. Jose Daniel Ferrer spent more than three years in prison following anti-government protests that swept through the Communist-run island in 2021.

(Tribune News Service) — Just hours after his release from prison on Thursday, Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer called on the incoming Trump administration to make no concessions to the Havana regime but at the same time help alleviate the humanitarian crisis on the island.

There is joy among families of those freed, but also concern that the deal may not last for long.

The Biden administration said it would remove Cuba from its terrorism blacklist, while Cuba said separately it would release upward of 500 prisoners from its jails.

Cuba started releasing some prisoners Wednesday as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after President Biden's administration announced his intent to lift the U.S. designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

President Biden will remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, U.S. officials announced on Tuesday, as a part of a deal that is expected to free protesters jailed during a sweeping 2021 crackdown on dissent by the Communist government.

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer told Reuters on Thursday he had been released from jail and was at home, part of a Cuban government plan negotiated with the Vatican to release upwards of 500 prisoners from the island`s prisons.

Trump needs to ask himself what would be more impressive: to be known as the president who did what 11 other presidents could not do (free Cuba) or the guy who shaved a few bucks off canal tolls.

The Biden administration lifted Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism on Tuesday, four years after the Trump White House issued the designation.

The Biden administration removed Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism on Tuesday, prompting Cuba to release hundreds of political prisoners.