A famous case from years ago is coming back. The US wants to bring charges against Fidel Castro's brother
According to CNN, federal prosecutors are reviewing several possible charges against 94-year-old Raul Castro, Fidel Castro's brother and former Cuban defense minister. Investigators are primarily investigating his responsibility for the shooting down by Cuban military aviation over international waters of two civilian planes belonging to Brothers to the Rescue – a humanitarian organization founded in the United States by Cuban immigrants. Four people died in this attack, including three US citizens.
A possible indictment could be announced soon. Federal prosecutors are working on the case. The initiator of the action was said to be federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones, although some career prosecutors expressed doubts whether sufficient evidence had been collected to formally file charges.
Comment by the Attorney General
CBS, which was the first to report on the Justice Ministry's actions, reported that American Republican congressmen of Cuban origin had been pressing for months to take legal action against Castro.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche commented on the case on Fox News, noting that there is no official information about the indictment yet. “I assure you and the American people that when the time comes to talk about it, we will, of course,” he assured Blanche.
Tense US-Cuba relations
The case coincides with growing tensions in relations between Washington and Havana. The US accuses Cuba of collaborating with hostile countries and hosting foreign military formations and intelligence services, which the Cuban side firmly denies. According to CNN, CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently visited Cuba, where he met with representatives of the local authorities.
At the same time, the Trump administration is tightening decades-old economic sanctions against the island. According to American media reports, in January Washington cut off oil supplies to Cuba from Venezuela and threatened to impose tariffs on countries willing to supply fuel to Havana.
Despite the restrictions, Trump suggested the possibility of improving bilateral relations. In recent days, he declared on social networks that the US “will talk” with Cuba.
