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| State Department asks Cuba to release US contractor on anniversary of arrest | State Department asks Cuba to release US contractor on anniversary of arrest |
| (8 days later) | |
| The US government has renewed its call on Cuba to release an American contractor jailed for crimes against the state, fearing the effect of a fourth year in prison on his deteriorating health. | The US government has renewed its call on Cuba to release an American contractor jailed for crimes against the state, fearing the effect of a fourth year in prison on his deteriorating health. |
| Coinciding with the third anniversary of his detention by authorities in the Caribbean island, the State Department released a statement Monday urging that Alan Gross be returned home on humanitarian grounds, noting that his 90-year-old mother was "gravely ill". | Coinciding with the third anniversary of his detention by authorities in the Caribbean island, the State Department released a statement Monday urging that Alan Gross be returned home on humanitarian grounds, noting that his 90-year-old mother was "gravely ill". |
| It comes amid renewed efforts by friends and family of the 63-year-old to draw media attention to his plight and pressure American officials to increase their efforts to secure a release. His wife, Judy Gross, recently filed a $60m lawsuit against the US government and the Maryland-based contractor her husband was working for at the time of his arrest. | It comes amid renewed efforts by friends and family of the 63-year-old to draw media attention to his plight and pressure American officials to increase their efforts to secure a release. His wife, Judy Gross, recently filed a $60m lawsuit against the US government and the Maryland-based contractor her husband was working for at the time of his arrest. |
| She claims that Gross should not have been sent to Cuba and that it is now the responsibility of US agencies to return him home. | She claims that Gross should not have been sent to Cuba and that it is now the responsibility of US agencies to return him home. |
| Gross, from Maryland, is serving a 15-year sentence for taking satellite and communications equipment onto the island as part of a Washington-sponsored "democracy-building" programme. | Gross, from Maryland, is serving a 15-year sentence for taking satellite and communications equipment onto the island as part of a Washington-sponsored "democracy-building" programme. |
| He was arrested by authorities in Cuba on 3 December 2009. Supporters have said he was merely helping the island's Jewish community improve their internet access. | He was arrested by authorities in Cuba on 3 December 2009. Supporters have said he was merely helping the island's Jewish community improve their internet access. |
| But a court found him guilty of involvement in a "subversive" programme funded by the United States to undermine the Cuban government and overthrow the regime. The lengthy sentence worsened the already poor relations between Washington and Havana. | But a court found him guilty of involvement in a "subversive" programme funded by the United States to undermine the Cuban government and overthrow the regime. The lengthy sentence worsened the already poor relations between Washington and Havana. |
| In comments last week, Judy Gross said the campaign to free her husband had suffered from not having generated the same level of interest as other US citizens jailed abroad, such as three hikers held in Iran and two journalists held in North Korea. Like Gross, all were arrested in 2009. | In comments last week, Judy Gross said the campaign to free her husband had suffered from not having generated the same level of interest as other US citizens jailed abroad, such as three hikers held in Iran and two journalists held in North Korea. Like Gross, all were arrested in 2009. |
| But despite the intervention of former president Jimmy Carter, who visited Gross in 2011, and lobbying of the Vatican ahead of a high-profile papal visit to Cuba earlier this year, there has apparently been little progress. | But despite the intervention of former president Jimmy Carter, who visited Gross in 2011, and lobbying of the Vatican ahead of a high-profile papal visit to Cuba earlier this year, there has apparently been little progress. |
| His wife has put part of the blame on a strategy in which for two years, lawyers tried to work through official diplomatic channels. Earlier this year, she changed her attorney and embarked on a new strategy of publicly agitating for his release. | His wife has put part of the blame on a strategy in which for two years, lawyers tried to work through official diplomatic channels. Earlier this year, she changed her attorney and embarked on a new strategy of publicly agitating for his release. |
| The new legal team also opted to sue the US government and Gross's employer, Development Alternatives Inc. | The new legal team also opted to sue the US government and Gross's employer, Development Alternatives Inc. |
| The contractor sent Gross to Cuba on work related to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – an arm of the government that provides economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide in support of US foreign policy; Cuba has accused it of trying to destabilise its regime. | The contractor sent Gross to Cuba on work related to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – an arm of the government that provides economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide in support of US foreign policy; Cuba has accused it of trying to destabilise its regime. |
| In company reports, Gross acknowledged that the work he was engaged in was "very risky business". | In company reports, Gross acknowledged that the work he was engaged in was "very risky business". |
| Cuba has expressed willingness to talk with US officials about Gross but has linked his release to the plight of the so-called "Cuban Five" – a group of men convicted in Florida of participating in a Cuban spy ring. | Cuba has expressed willingness to talk with US officials about Gross but has linked his release to the plight of the so-called "Cuban Five" – a group of men convicted in Florida of participating in a Cuban spy ring. |
| US officials have said the two cases are different. In the latest plea the State Department described Gross as a "dedicated professional with a long history of providing assistance and support to under-served communities in more than 50 countries". | US officials have said the two cases are different. In the latest plea the State Department described Gross as a "dedicated professional with a long history of providing assistance and support to under-served communities in more than 50 countries". |
| Noting his deteriorating health – Gross is said to have lost 100lbs and suffers from severe degenerative arthritis that affects his mobility – the statement added: "His family is anxious to evaluate whether he is receiving appropriate medical treatment, something that can best be determined by having a doctor of his own choosing examine him." | Noting his deteriorating health – Gross is said to have lost 100lbs and suffers from severe degenerative arthritis that affects his mobility – the statement added: "His family is anxious to evaluate whether he is receiving appropriate medical treatment, something that can best be determined by having a doctor of his own choosing examine him." |
| As such "the Cuban government should release Alan Gross and return him to his family, where he belongs", the State Department said in a statement that did not mention the Cuban Five. | As such "the Cuban government should release Alan Gross and return him to his family, where he belongs", the State Department said in a statement that did not mention the Cuban Five. |
| Judy Gross has said it was not important to her what kind of deal is reached. "Bring him home," she told reporters last week, adding: "I don't care how they do it." | Judy Gross has said it was not important to her what kind of deal is reached. "Bring him home," she told reporters last week, adding: "I don't care how they do it." |
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