In the USA, charges have been filed in absentia against former Cuban leader Raul Castro.

      In the United States, charges have been filed in absentia against former Cuban leader Raul Castro for the destruction of two American planes by the Cuban Air Force in 1996. This was reported by Reuters, citing a senior official from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The agency's source described the indictment as "part of the escalation of pressure on the communist leadership of Cuba," but did not disclose any additional details. A representative from the U.S. Department of Justice previously anonymously revealed plans to charge the 94-year-old Raul Castro. The charges are related to the 1996 incident when the air force of the island nation shot down two planes belonging to the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue, created by Cuban migrants. Four people on board the planes were killed. According to court documents, the indictment filed in federal court in Miami against Raul Castro includes one count of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, four counts of murder, and two counts of destruction of aircraft. In addition to the former politician, five other individuals are also defendants in the case. Brothers to the Rescue (Hermanos al Rescate) was founded by Cuban migrants living in the U.S. in 1991 and was based in Miami. Members of the organization conducted flights over the Florida Straits, engaging in search and rescue of migrants fleeing Cuba in homemade boats. Later, the group's activities included anti-government actions against the island's leadership. After the destruction of its two planes on February 24, 1996, Brothers to the Rescue ceased to exist. The Miami-Dade County Prosecutor's Office organized an event today in memory of the victims of the incident. Many Cuban-Americans living in the city attended. At the end of January this year, Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on imports from any countries that directly or indirectly supply oil to the island nation. Following this, an energy crisis began in Cuba: power outages increased, and there was a shortage of fuel and food.

      Born in 1931, Raul Castro, the younger brother of Fidel Castro, was, like him, one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution of 1959. From 1959 to 2008, he served as Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba. After his older brother stepped down due to illness in 2008, he took over as Chairman of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba. The politician left these positions in 2018 but remained the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the island until 2021 (a position he assumed in 2011).