Former Cuban President Raúl Castro appears publicly after hospitalization

Former Cuban President Raúl Castro made a rare public appearance at a military event on Saturday, marking his first appearance since being hospitalized. The event celebrated the anniversary of an army branch tasked with protecting top leaders. The 95-year-old was seen in his signature olive-green military uniform, accompanied by his bodyguard and grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro.

Castro's last public appearance was on August 13. Cuban state television aired footage showing Castro participating in the ceremony. His grandson had been involved in talks with the United States earlier in the year, but those talks have since halted and sanctions have increased. The former president, who no longer holds an official position, rarely appears in public.

Rumors about his health have circulated, particularly after his absence from a July rally marking a major Cuban revolution celebration. The Cuban government has not confirmed the illness, only citing a source close to Castro. In June, U.S. authorities filed murder charges against Castro in connection with an incident from 1996. Castro appeared alongside high-ranking military officials at the event, taking a seat in the front row and receiving a commemorative certificate.