Humberto López, the leading media spokesperson for the Cuban regime and host of the show "Razones de Cuba," was tasked with delivering the official government statement on state television. This statement outrightly rejected the federal criminal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Raúl Castro Ruz.
The charges, unveiled by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at Miami's Freedom Tower, include conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the downing of two planes from the Brothers to the Rescue organization on February 24, 1996. This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
Official Response from the Cuban Government
On camera, López read an official statement that dismissed the charges as a "scoundrel accusation," condemning them as a "despicable and infamous act of political provocation" based on a dishonest manipulation of the 1996 incident.
The statement asserted that "the United States government lacks legitimacy and jurisdiction to undertake this action," arguing that the downing of the planes was "an act of legitimate defense" supported by the United Nations Charter, the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, and principles of air sovereignty and proportionality.
Reactions from Cuban Leadership
The declaration also highlighted that Cuba had filed over 25 formal complaints between 1994 and 1996 with the State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Civil Aviation Organization regarding violations of Cuban airspace.
The statement did not shy away from strong rhetoric: "It is deeply cynical for the same government that has killed nearly 200 people and destroyed 57 vessels in international waters of the Caribbean and Pacific to make these accusations."
President Miguel Díaz-Canel defended Raúl Castro, labeling the accusations as "a political maneuver without any legal basis," insisting that Cuba acted "in legitimate defense within its jurisdictional waters." This account contradicts findings by the ICAO and U.S. courts, which determined the incident occurred over international waters.
International and Domestic Implications
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz took to X, claiming the accusations "expose the lack of arguments" from the United States, dismissing them as a "farce."
López's involvement in this incident aligns with his usual role within the regime's propaganda machinery. The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba has included him in a database of "violent repressors" for advocating that activists be tried for treason, and his accounts on Facebook and Instagram were blocked by Meta in May 2025 for violating community standards.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Charges against Raúl Castro
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the 1996 downing of two planes from the Brothers to the Rescue organization.
How did the Cuban government respond to these charges?
The Cuban government, through Humberto López, rejected the charges, labeling them as politically motivated and defending their actions as legitimate self-defense.
What was the outcome of the 1996 incident involving Brothers to the Rescue?
The incident led to the deaths of four individuals and was ruled by international bodies and U.S. courts as having occurred over international waters, countering Cuba's claims of jurisdictional defense.