CUBA has pardoned more than 2,000 prisoners following a legal review process, authorities announced on Thursday.

The Cuban government said that 2,101 individuals serving prison sentences would be pardoned in line with legal provisions and Article II of the Constitution.

Authorities said the decision was a “humanitarian gesture” during Holy Week and resulted from a review process assessing the nature of the offences, inmates’ behaviour during incarceration, the portion of the sentence already served and health conditions.

The measure includes young people, women and individuals over 60 years old, as well as those expected to qualify for early release within the next six to 12 months.

Foreign nationals and Cuban citizens residing abroad are also among those pardoned.

Prisoners convicted of serious crimes, including sexual offences, violent crimes against minors, homicide, drug-related offences, violent robbery involving weapons, corruption of minors, and crimes against authority, were excluded from the pardons.

Repeat offenders and individuals previously pardoned who reoffended were also excluded.

This is the fifth pardon granted by the Cuban government since 2011, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to more than 11,000.

Meanwhile, thousands of young Cubans took part on Thursday in the “Here, with Fidel” Anti-Imperialist Youth Parade in the capital Havana, an event organised by the Union of Young Communists and the Jose Marti Pioneer Organisation.

Participants denounced the intensification of the six-decade-old United States blockade of the Caribbean island and reaffirmed the commitment of the youth to the country’s socialist project and its national sovereignty.

The demonstration was joined by Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

President Canel was accompanied by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Roberto Morales, the organisation secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

During the rally, Union of Young Communists first secretary Meyvis Estevez said that Cuba’s dignity is “non-negotiable” in the face of persistent pressures from the US against the country.