A leading Cuban dissident and activist has been freed as part of a broader prisoner release agreement between the Cuban government and the United States.

Jose Daniel Ferrer spent more than three years in prison as anti-government protests rocked the communist-ruled island in 2021.

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has removed Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism days before the end of his term in office, under a deal brokered by the Catholic Church.

In return, Cuba said it would release 553 people, many of whom were detained during anti-government protests.

islands Release of first of hundreds of prisoners begins On Wednesday, about 20 people were released, according to local NGOs.

Ferrer is one of the best-known names among Cuban dissidents and pro-democracy activists. The 54-year-old leader of Cuba’s opposition group Unpacu was jailed after protests in 2021 and charged with disturbing public order.

“I am at home, in good health but with the courage to continue fighting for Cuba’s freedom,” Ferrer told Reuters by phone.

Many of the prisoners released this week were arrested in connection with 2021 protests during which citizens demanded that the Cuban government do more to alleviate widespread food shortages and reduce rising prices.

Biden’s move to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, has been critical of the decision to ease sanctions on Cuba and has suggested it could be reversed.

Rubio, speaking at a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, said “the new administration is not bound by that decision” when it comes to some sanctions on Cuba that the Biden administration lifted on Tuesday.

Earlier, Mike Walz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said on Fox News that “anything[the Biden administration]does now, we can counter, no one should be concerned about the changes in Cuba.” Have no illusions about “policy”.

The Cuban government says designating the island as a state sponsor of terrorism is grossly unjust and aimed at damaging the Cuban economy by denying Cuba access to international bank credit.