Florida: A court in the US state of Florida reportedly issued an arrest warrant on Monday for former Cuban President Raúl Castro, who is reported to be 95 years old.
US authorities filed criminal charges against Castro in May this year. The charges include four counts of murder, the destruction of two aircraft, and conspiracy to kill US citizens. Five other individuals have also been named as defendants in the case.
According to US broadcaster CBS News, the charges are potentially linked to a 1996 incident in which the Cuban Air Force shot down two aircraft belonging to Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based organisation of Cuban exiles.
The incident resulted in the deaths of four people aboard the aircraft and became a major point of tension between Washington and Havana.
Russia Condemns Arrest Warrant
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the arrest warrant, describing the US judicial action against Raúl Castro as unacceptable.
In a statement, Moscow warned that further escalation of tensions surrounding Cuba could destabilise the wider Latin American and Caribbean region.
The arrest warrant was reportedly approved by a Florida state judge on Monday, October 19, 2026, on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The case stems from the February 24, 1996, downing of the two civilian aircraft over international waters.
It remains unclear whether Castro, who resides in Cuba, will ever face trial in the United States. Cuba does not extradite its citizens to the US, presenting a significant obstacle to bringing him before an American court.