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The Cuban regime released Salvadoran Raúl Ernesto Cruz León on Monday after he completed a 30-year prison sentence on the island for his involvement in a series of terrorist attacks in 1997 in Havana.
Cruz León, who was one of the perpetrators of the attacks, was arrested and tried in Cuba in connection with the explosions that resulted in several injuries and the death of an Italian tourist at the Copacabana hotel, reported the government newspaper Granma.
Initially sentenced to death for continued acts of terrorism, his sentence was modified in 2010 by the decision of the Chamber of Crimes against State Security of the People’s Supreme Court.
The death penalty was replaced by 30 years of imprisonment, which he completed in full this December 30th.
The Cuban regime has stated that the attacks "were orchestrated by terrorist groups financed by the Cuban American National Foundation (FNCA) and supported by the U.S. government."
According to the official narrative, on September 4, 1997, Cruz León detonated a bomb at the Copacabana Hotel in Havana, resulting in the death of young Italian Fabio Di Celmo and leaving 11 others injured in various hotels across the Cuban capital.
In 2016, the regime also released Otto Rodríguez Llerena, another individual involved in the placement of the explosive devices. At that time, Cruz León and Francisco Chávez Abarca remained incarcerated.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Release of Raúl Ernesto Cruz León and Terrorism in Cuba
Who is Raúl Ernesto Cruz León and why was he released?
Raúl Ernesto Cruz León is a Salvadoran who was released by the Cuban regime after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in terrorist attacks in Havana in 1997. These attacks resulted in the death of an Italian tourist and several injuries. Initially, Cruz León was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to 30 years in prison in 2010.
What role did the Cuban-American National Foundation play in the 1997 attacks in Cuba?
The Cuban regime claims that the attacks in which Cruz León participated were orchestrated by terrorist groups funded by the Cuban American National Foundation, with the support of the United States government. This is the official version provided by the Cuban government to explain the attacks carried out in Havana in 1997.
What was the Cuban regime's reaction to the release of Alexander Alazo in the United States?
The Cuban regime strongly criticized the release of Alexander Alazo, who fired shots at the Cuban embassy in Washington in 2020. They accused the United States of supporting acts of terrorism against the island and expressed their disapproval of the court decision that allowed his release under psychiatric conditions, arguing that Alazo's connections with aggressive groups against Cuba were overlooked.
What other recent cases of international violence related to Cuba have been reported?
In addition to the release of Cruz León and the case of Alexander Alazo, other violent incidents involving Cubans abroad have been reported. For example, the murder of a Cuban in France connected to organized crime and the arrest of a Cuban in Costa Rica for firing shots into the air. These incidents reflect a concerning pattern of violence associated with Cuban citizens overseas.
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