The Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered a heartfelt tribute to Raúl Castro on Friday during the commemorative event held at the Teatro Karl Marx in Havana for the 95th birthday of the former leader and the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
In his speech as president of the National Defense Council, Díaz-Canel stated that "two anniversaries call us together today," events he described as closely linked because, as he said, it was Raúl who conceived, during the guerrilla struggle in the mountains of the Second Front, what later became the Ministry of the Interior after the triumph of the Revolution.
The head of state devoted a significant portion of his speech to extolling the figure of the nonagenarian former dictator, whom he described as "military leader, internationally recognized political leader, comrade in struggle, close family member, and indispensable man of the Revolution."
"Raúl is Raúl, the people say in all forums," affirmed Díaz-Canel, adding that this idea "highlights the uniqueness of an exceptional figure who, alongside Fidel, already holds a distinguished place in the worthy and uplifting history of the Cuban nation due to the sum of human values that set him apart."
The Cuban leader implicitly rejected the criminal charges brought by the United States Department of Justice against Castro on May 20, 2026: “Neither enemy campaigns nor false accusations diminish his long record of service to the homeland,” he stated before the audience gathered at the Karl Marx.
The federal indictment, returned by a grand jury on April 23, 2026, charges Raúl Castro with conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft, and four counts of homicide for the shooting down of two airplanes from Hermanos al Rescate on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
Díaz-Canel also referred to the alleged attempts on Raúl's life throughout his lifetime: "It signifies heroism, dignity, and serves as a moral shield. It means having thwarted several attempts to assassinate him because his courage and loyalty made him an early target of enemy intelligence services and the mercenaries trained and financed by them," he asserted.
He concluded his reference to the former ruler with the slogan that the regime has promoted in speeches and political rallies in the weeks leading up to this: "Raúl is Cuba, and Cuba is untouchable."
Raúl Castro himself, who turned 95 years old on June 3rd, attended the event in a politically significant public reappearance for the regime, which received a prolonged ovation upon his arrival at the theater.
The Minister of the Interior, Army General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, read a message from Raúl Castro addressed to the members of the MININT: "I congratulate with deep pride your officers, fighters, civil workers, and students. Our heartfelt recognition reaches you for being an indispensable bastion in the defense of the sovereignty and tranquility of the Cuban nation," the text stated.
Raúl's reappearance contrasts with his absence at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune event on May 22, which was specifically called in his honor, leading to mockery and speculation about his health on social media.
The tribute on Friday is part of an institutional support campaign that the regime has launched since the announcement of the U.S. criminal charges, and includes events in various provinces and a call from the Young Communist Union under the slogans #95DeRaúl and #RaúlEsRaúl, while Cuba is experiencing one of its worst economic crises in decades, with prolonged blackouts, widespread shortages, and unprecedented mass emigration.
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