Acting Spokesperson Mark C. Toner today said the Council of State of Cuba has announced the release of 2,900 prisoners and Alan Gross is not among them.
“If this is correct, we are deeply disappointed and deplore the fact that the Cuban government has decided not to take this opportunity to extend this humanitarian release to Mr. Gross this holiday season, especially in light of his deteriorating health, and to put an end to the Gross family’s long plight.” -Mr. Toner
Mr. Toner stressed the United States continues to call on the Cuban authorities to release Alan Gross and return him to his family, where he belongs.
Alan Phillip Gross is an American social worker and international development professional. He was arrested while in Cuba as a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)in December 2009. He is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence in Cuba.
