The Cuban government has announced the release of Salvadoran citizen Otto René Rodríguez Llerena, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in a 1997 terrorist attack at the Hotel Meliá Cohíba in Havana. According to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rodríguez Llerena completed his sentence and was released "in accordance with the country's laws."
The attack for which Rodríguez Llerena was convicted was part of a series of bombings targeting tourist facilities on the island during the 1990s. In a statement, the regime emphasized that "Cuba upholds its laws and ensures that all terrorists are brought to justice." The statement also criticized the United States, accusing it of allowing the organization and funding of violent acts against Cuba from its territory.
The official narrative highlights that Rodríguez Llerena admitted to planting an explosive device in the lobby of the Meliá Cohíba hotel in Havana on August 3, 1997. Although the attack resulted in no casualties, it caused, according to the government, $6,500 in material damage. Less than a year later, on June 10, 1998, Rodríguez Llerena returned to Cuba for another mission: to smuggle 1,519 grams of C-4 explosives, two detonators, and two timers intended to activate the charges. However, the devices were detected by Customs.
The government accused the former Salvadoran military officer of returning on orders from Luis Posada Carriles, with the intent to deliver the explosives to an intelligence agent of the regime. Initially, in 1999, the Cuban Supreme People's Court sentenced him to death. However, in 2010, this sentence was commuted to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of continued terrorism.
In 2024, the Cuban regime also released another Salvadoran, Raúl Ernesto Cruz León, after he completed his 30-year prison sentence for his role in the 1997 Havana terrorist attacks. Cruz León, identified as one of the perpetrators, was arrested and tried in Cuba in connection with the explosions that injured several people and killed an Italian tourist at the Copacabana hotel, as reported by the government-run newspaper Granma.
The official account states that on September 4, 1997, Cruz León detonated a bomb at the Copacabana hotel in Havana, resulting in the death of young Italian Fabio Di Celmo and injuring 11 others across various hotels in the Cuban capital.
Key Facts about the Release of Otto Rodríguez Llerena
Who is Otto René Rodríguez Llerena?
Otto René Rodríguez Llerena is a Salvadoran citizen who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a 1997 terrorist attack at the Hotel Meliá Cohíba in Havana.
What was Rodríguez Llerena's involvement in the 1997 attacks?
Rodríguez Llerena admitted to planting an explosive device in the lobby of the Meliá Cohíba hotel, which was part of a series of bombings targeting tourist sites in Cuba during the 1990s.
How did the Cuban government respond to the attacks?
The Cuban government sentenced Rodríguez Llerena to 30 years in prison, originally sentencing him to death before commuting it, and emphasized that Cuba adheres to its laws and brings terrorists to justice.