A U.S. grand jury in Florida indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five other individuals on Wednesday [1], [2].

The charges represent a significant escalation in legal efforts to hold former Cuban leadership accountable for the deaths of civilians. This move marks one of the few times the U.S. has pursued murder charges against a former head of state for actions taken decades ago.

Federal prosecutors in Florida brought the charges on May 20, 2026 [1], [3]. The indictment includes four counts of murder [4] and charges of conspiracy to kill [2], [3]. The legal action stems from the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles [5], [6].

According to the indictment, Castro and his co-defendants played a role in ordering the attack on the aircraft [6]. The incident occurred during a period of high tension between the U.S. and Cuba, as part of a broader pressure campaign against the Cuban government [6].

Raúl Castro was 94 years old at the time of the indictment [4]. In total, six individuals were named in the federal filing [1]. The case is now being handled by the U.S. District Court in Florida [1], [3].

Cuban officials have not yet provided a formal response to the charges. The U.S. government has not specified whether it intends to seek extradition, or if the indictment serves as a legal mechanism to restrict the travel of the accused.

“A U.S. grand jury in Florida indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five other individuals.”

This indictment signals a shift toward using the U.S. judicial system to seek accountability for historical human rights violations and state-sponsored violence. By targeting a former head of state, the U.S. is asserting that sovereign immunity does not extend to alleged murder conspiracies, potentially setting a precedent for future cases involving foreign officials.