Venezuela's ruling party condemns US arrest warrant for Raúl Castro
In short
Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party on 21 October condemned an arrest warrant issued against Cuban revolutionary leader Raúl Castro by the US state of Florida, calling it an "intimidation tactic". Florida's attorney general issued the warrant on the 19th, citing "participation in first-degree murder", and Cuban President Díaz-Canel called it a "political farce".
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Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party on 21 October condemned an arrest warrant issued by the US state of Florida against Cuban revolutionary leader Raúl Castro, calling it an "intimidation tactic". Xinhua reported the story from Caracas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In a statement on social media, the party said the US action lacked a legal basis, violated basic principles of international law and was intended to undermine Cuba's sovereignty. It called for respect for Cuban sovereignty and an immediate end to the blockade of Cuba. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Xinhua and Yicai said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued the warrant on the 19th, citing what Xinhua described as "so-called" "participation in first-degree murder". Cuban President Díaz-Canel called the move a "political farce" with no legal or practical meaning. Yicai said its text was based on CCTV News. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The reports show the Venezuelan party and Cuba's president rejecting the warrant and tying it to US pressure on Cuba. The documents do not say what legal steps follow.
Key facts
- Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party condemned the arrest warrant on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The party called the warrant an "intimidation tactic" and said it had no legal basis and violated basic principles of international law. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The party said the US aimed to undermine Cuban sovereignty and called for respect for it and an immediate end to the blockade of Cuba. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued the warrant for Raúl Castro on the 19th, citing what Xinhua called "so-called" "participation in first-degree murder". [ 1 , 3 ]
- Cuban President Díaz-Canel called the move a "political farce" with no legal or practical meaning. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party condemned the Florida arrest warrant for Raúl Castro as an "intimidation tactic" in a statement on social media. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued the warrant on the 19th, and Cuban President Díaz-Canel called it a "political farce". [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the warrant has any practical effect. Díaz-Canel said it has no legal or practical meaning, as relayed by Xinhua and Yicai; the documents carry no US statement or other view.
- The basis of the "first-degree murder" allegation. The documents give only the charge description, which Xinhua called "so-called", and no detail of the allegation.