UMVA has learned that a massive show of solidarity took place in Havana today, as the Cuban regime rallied behind revolutionary leader Raúl Castro in the wake of his indictment by U.S. authorities.
The rally, held in front of the U.S. Embassy, was a defiant display of support for Castro, who was charged with conspiracy to commit murder over the downing of two civilian planes in 1996. The move is seen as the latest escalation in a mounting pressure campaign by the White House, which aims to bring down the communist regime.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Castro, 94, was indicted by the U.S. justice department on May 20 for his alleged role in ordering Cuban forces to shoot down the planes, resulting in the deaths of four members of the Miami-based Cuban dissident group Hermanos Al Rescate. U.S. authorities claim Castro, then defense minister, must have been involved in ordering the attack that killed three U.S. citizens.
Cuba's regime has vehemently rejected the charges, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel labeling the indictment a "political move" with "no legal basis." Díaz-Canel has used his social media account to defend Castro's honor, sharing images of the revolutionary leader and warning that anyone who disrespects Cuba's heroes will face consequences.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that thousands gathered on the Malecón promenade in Havana, waving flags and dancing in a show of solidarity with Castro. Pictures from the rally show Cuban veterans waving flags and holding up images of the Castro brothers, with Castro's daughter, Mariela Castro, in attendance.
Mariela Castro downplayed the threat of war with the U.S., saying that Cuba is "used to receiving constant threats" and that there have been more dangerous moments in the past. Meanwhile, state newspaper Granma has been countering U.S. claims that Cuba poses a national security threat, with a headline reading: "Cuba neither threatens, challenges, nor provokes the United States or any other country in the world; Cuba is a peaceful nation."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Cuban government remains defiant, with Díaz-Canel noting that the country is just days away from celebrating Castro's 95th birthday on June 3. The regime's stance has raised questions about Washington's plans for the island, with some predicting a possible operation similar to the extraction of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
