The Minister of Justice of Cuba, Rosabel Gamón Verde, expressed her support for Raúl Castro this Thursday and stated that she feels "honored" to be included in the list of officials sanctioned by the United States, describing herself as someone who "does not sell out" and "does not bend."
In statements shared on social media, Gamón Verde described the event as "a revolutionary reaffirmation of our people's unwavering support for our revolution, our leaders, and of course, for our army general, leader of the Cuban revolution."
The minister categorically dismissed the criminal charges filed by Washington against Raúl Castro: "First of all, this is just another lie from the United States government, from imperialism, to discredit the leaders and officials of our revolution. Everything they announce, we know, is a lie."
Regarding his own inclusion on the sanctions list, he said: "If they believe that I am on the list of those who do not sell out, of those who do not bend, of those who cannot be bought, and of those who defend our project, then I feel honored to be on that list."
Gamón Verde is among the 11 Cuban officials sanctioned by the U.S. on May 18, under Executive Order 14404 signed by Donald Trump on May 1, aimed at those responsible for repression on the island.
The minister's statement comes two days after the U.S. Department of Justice declassified the criminal charges against Raúl Castro for the downing of two civil aircraft from Hermanos al Rescate on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban Americans: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
The indictment, presented by a federal grand jury in Miami on April 23 and kept sealed until Wednesday, includes charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civil aircraft, and four counts of homicide.
Alongside Raúl Castro, five former Cuban military officers were accused: Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez, Emilio José Palacio Blanco, José Fidel Gual Barzaga, Raúl Simanca Cárdenas, and Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez.
The regime has responded with a wave of institutional acts of support: Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, the Council of State and the Cuban Parliament issued statements in defense of Raúl Castro, all describing the accusation as a "farce" and "imperialism."
Gamón Verde was appointed Minister of Justice in December 2025, when she took office amid changes and a crisis, nominated by the President of the Republic and unanimously approved by the National Assembly.
The downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes was the catalyst for the Helms-Burton Act, which tightened the U.S. embargo against Cuba, and it remains one of the most documented crimes of the Cuban regime against civilians.
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