Indicted Raúl Castro reappears after months out of public view
Brother of Fidel Castro, facing indictment in United States, last appeared in public at a May 1 event in front of the US Embassy in Havana, where he appeared frail, and was shown on state television at events in June. Leer más
Former Cuban President Raúl Castro, who is currently facing US indictments, made a rare public appearance this week at an event in Havana marking the centenary of his brother Fidel's birth. Dressed in his signature olive-green military uniform, the 95-year-old head of the Cuban Armed Forces and the island's last surviving revolutionary leader received a standing ovation, marking his first public appearance in months.
The event took place at the Karl Marx theatre, where Castro's presence was marked by tight security measures, including banned mobile phones, bag screenings, and metal detectors. Despite the island's current crisis, fueled by a US energy embargo and calls for regime change, Castro seemingly defied expectations by attending the centenary celebration.
In May, Castro was indicted by a Florida court on four counts of murder, related to the downing of US civilian planes in 1996 during his tenure as defence minister. Since stepping down as president in 2018, Castro's public appearances have been sparse, with his last public event in May 2021 drawing attention to his frail appearance.
The US government has imposed strict sanctions on Cuba, demanding political and economic reforms in response to the crisis. President Donald Trump, along with senior officials, has hinted at potential military options against Cuba, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that all options, including military intervention, are on the table.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
