At 95 years old, Raúl Castro made a rare public appearance this Tuesday, leading the first guard of honor for Ramiro Valdés Menéndez at the headquarters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry (MINFAR) in Havana. He was joined by the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, as reported by Canal Caribe.
This ceremony served as a posthumous tribute to the historic figure of the Castro regime, who passed away on Sunday, June 21, at the age of 94. The event also gathered Army Corps Generals Álvaro López Miera and Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, who are the Ministers of the Armed Forces and the Interior, respectively.
Beside the urn holding Valdés's ashes were displayed his decorations and the Cuban flag that, in 1997, oversaw the transfer of Che Guevara's remains and those of his comrades from Bolivia to Santa Clara.
After the tribute, Raúl Castro personally approached Valdés's family to offer his condolences, as reported by the official press.
A Symbolic Farewell from the Last of the Founders
Raúl's reappearance carries significant symbolism: he is the last surviving member of the founding core of the Castro regime, bidding farewell to his closest comrade-in-arms.
His public appearances have become increasingly infrequent; the last one was on June 6 at the Karl Marx Theater during an event marking his 95th birthday and the 65th anniversary of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), where he was noted to appear visibly frail.
Remembering Ramiro Valdés: A Divisive Legacy
As the regime organizes tribute ceremonies across the country's state institutions, with students, military personnel, and officials standing guard and signing condolence books, many Cubans remember Valdés as the architect of the state's repressive machinery.
The late Valdés founded MININT in 1961, established the Department of State Security and the General Directorate of Intelligence, earning nicknames such as "Blood Pool" and "the Butcher of Artemisa."
The regime declared an official mourning period through Presidential Decree 1247, signed by Díaz-Canel, with flags at half-mast on public buildings and military institutions throughout Tuesday.
The Waning Historical Generation of the Cuban Revolution
With Valdés's passing, the so-called historical generation of the Cuban Revolution is now reduced to two figures: Raúl Castro and Guillermo García Frías.
The remains of the former leader will be moved to Santa Clara on Thursday, June 25, for final burial with military honors at the Mausoleum for the Front of Las Villas, in accordance with his wish to rest alongside his comrades and near his leader, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna.
Understanding the Impact of Ramiro Valdés's Legacy
Who was Ramiro Valdés Menéndez?
Ramiro Valdés Menéndez was a key figure in the Cuban revolutionary government, known for founding the Ministry of the Interior, the Department of State Security, and the General Directorate of Intelligence.
What significance did Raúl Castro's appearance have?
Raúl Castro's appearance is significant as he is the last surviving member of the original founders of the Castro regime, symbolically marking the end of an era as he bids farewell to one of his closest allies.