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The Embassy of Russia in Cuba and its ambassador, Víctor Koronelli, congratulated the dictator Raúl Castro on Wednesday for his 95th birthday and stated that his dedication "is a source of strength and inspiration for millions of Cubans," in messages posted on social media.
The official account of the Russian diplomatic mission posted the greeting this morning, referring to Castro as "Leader of the Cuban Revolution" and wishing him "good health, spirits, and boundless energy."
The message concluded with the hashtag #RaúlEsRaúl, the same one that the Cuban regime has used in its political mobilization campaign in recent weeks.
Minutes later, Ambassador Koronelli added his own message: "Our warm embrace from the Russian Embassy in Cuba to Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, who turns 95 today. His strong will, wisdom, experience, and dedication to the cause of José Martí and Fidel Castro are a source of strength and inspiration for millions of Cubans."
The Russian congratulations arrive at a time of heightened international pressure on Castro since the triumph of the revolution.
On May 20, the acting Attorney General of the United States, Todd Blanche, declassified a federal indictment against Raúl Castro for the downing of two civilian aircraft from Hermanos al Rescate on February 24, 1996, in which four Cuban Americans died: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
The charges include conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft, and four individual counts of murder, offenses that carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
The central piece of the accusation is an audio recording in which Castro himself orders: "Throw them into the sea when they appear; and do not consult those who have the authority."
After the declassification, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Castro is "a fugitive from American justice", while federal prosecutor Yara Klukas warned: "We are waiting for Raúl Castro. This was not a show. He is going to have his day in court before a jury in South Florida."
The regime responded with a campaign of daily open forums across the country from May 23 until today, and Díaz-Canel proclaimed: "The Army General is Cuba, and Cuba must be respected."
As Moscow sent its greetings, Havana marked Castro's birthday with pot-banging in neighborhoods like El Vedado, Centro Habana, Playa, Regla, Old Havana, Cayo Hueso, and San Miguel del Padrón, amidst blackouts lasting up to 22 hours a day.
At least 14 arrests were reported in connection with the protest mobilizations that occurred on Wednesday in the capital.
Russia and Cuba will commemorate in 2026 the 66th anniversary of the reestablishment of their diplomatic relations, and Moscow has intensified its support for the regime: there is a military cooperation agreement signed in March 2025, and the Russian investment portfolio in the island exceeds 1 billion dollars in sectors such as energy and agriculture.
The acting Attorney General Blanche was emphatic on May 28: “We did not do this for an exhibition accusation,” and he assured that they will do “everything possible” to bring Castro before a court in Miami.
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