Cuban content creator José Martínez recently shared a 72-second satirical reel on Facebook, employing dark humor and sharp irony to dramatize how Raúl Castro might face trial if subjected to the same judicial methods the Cuban regime uses against political prisoners.
This video was released merely three days following the U.S. Department of Justice's disclosure of a federal indictment against the former dictator, presented to a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 23, 2026. The charges accuse him of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide.
The accusations stem from the infamous incident on February 24, 1996, when Cuban Revolutionary Air Force MiG-29s downed two Cessna 337 planes belonging to Brothers to the Rescue, resulting in the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales over international waters in the Florida Straits.
At that time, Raúl Castro served as the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, a position from which he allegedly ordered or sanctioned the operation, according to the indictment.
Martínez's Satirical Take on a Hypothetical Trial
The reel kicks off with a poignant phrase encapsulating the irony: "Stay silent, accused, / since you have silenced so many. / And don't sit down again, / you've sat long enough."
From there, Martínez's script meticulously highlights some of the daily torments reserved for regime opponents: "Keep him handcuffed, / let him beg God for mercy. / And in the cell, only rice, / no milk or meat. / Let him learn what hunger is."
The interrogation scene requires no fictional embellishment: "For the interrogation, / there's no need for innovation. / The communist method / used in Villa Marista," referencing the notorious State Security headquarters in Havana, infamous for its psychological pressure and degrading conditions.
Reality for Political Prisoners
Cuban journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, who reported spending a week in Villa Marista, recounted the ordeal vividly: "I chewed on the same salt rock as I did on stones in the rice."
The harsh conditions narrated by Martínez are all too real for the 1,161 political prisoners documented in Cuba by Prisoners Defenders at the end of 2024: "No correspondence. / All personal belongings / confiscated. / If any package arrives from family, / it's used as propaganda."
The reel further describes scenarios familiar to any Cuban political prisoner: "And don't give him any juice. [...] / No toilet paper or soap. / Daily blackouts / lasting 25 hours."
The satirical piece concludes with a stark reflection of revolutionary justice: "Regarding the sentence... / its essence reflects / your proud democracy. / Ask him in the morning / what he thinks he deserves, / but the sentence will be / whatever we feel like."
As the video circulated, the Cuban Council of State and Parliament defended Raúl Castro, Nicaragua's regime stood by him, and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum questioned the charges.
While largely symbolic, the indictment highlights the absence of an extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, with Raúl Castro, now 94, residing in Cuba and beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Should a trial occur, he could face life imprisonment alongside five other accused former Cuban military officials: Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez, Emilio José Palacio Blanco, José Fidel Gual Barzaga, Raúl Simanca Cárdenas, and Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez.
Understanding the Charges Against Raúl Castro
What are the main charges against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes.
Why is the indictment largely symbolic?
The indictment is mostly symbolic because Raúl Castro resides in Cuba, where there is no extradition treaty with the United States, placing him beyond U.S. jurisdiction.
How does the video by José Martínez portray the trial of Raúl Castro?
The video uses satire and dark humor to mimic the judicial methods the Cuban regime employs against political prisoners, effectively critiquing the regime's oppressive practices.