The United States has filed criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro, accusing him of ordering the 1996 shootdown of two planes that killed four people, including three American citizens. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment in Miami’s Freedom Tower, stating that Castro and five others face murder charges related to the destruction of two aircraft owned by the Cuban-American group Brothers to the Rescue. The charges carry potential penalties of life imprisonment or death.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated move without legal basis, accusing Washington of distorting facts and using the case to justify aggression against Cuba. He insisted the planes were downed in Cuba’s airspace in self-defense. The indictment comes amid heightened US pressure on Cuba’s communist government, including sanctions and fuel restrictions that have worsened power outages and food shortages.

Experts cited in the report suggested the move is part of a broader US strategy to pressure Havana into negotiations. However, they noted that given Castro’s advanced age and retirement, a direct confrontation or extradition appears unlikely.