Mercedes Roque, a Cuban citizen, has publicly accused the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Álvaro López Miera, via a Facebook video, of institutional mockery. In a meeting held this past Monday with representatives from the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), none of the officers she explicitly requested were present.
For over a year, Roque has been demanding answers regarding the death of her 18-year-old son, Antonio Alejandro Rassi Roque. He tragically passed away on August 18, 2025, at the Military Unit 5050 "El Calvario" in Havana, just three weeks after beginning his mandatory military service.
The recent meeting was attended by three lieutenant colonels identified as Aysel, Norque, and a third whose name Roque could not recall. Notably absent were Major Ricardo Martínez, the unit's leader during Antonio's service, and First Lieutenant Aldo Fabregas Ardiles, whom Roque holds accountable for her son's death.
Roque expressed her frustration in the video, stating, "It was a complete waste of time. Another useless piece of paper to file away."
On August 20, 2026, Roque had submitted a formal complaint to MINFAR, requesting the formation of a commission with specific officials, a request that remains unfulfilled.
"Where does a mother turn to seek justice and true transparency for the death of a son who perished under your institutions, under military custody, under state custody?" Roque questioned in her video.
Roque recounted her son's deteriorating mental state while in the unit. He struggled with sleep, neglected personal hygiene, appeared disoriented, and wore a dirty uniform. He was threatened with transfer to a punishment unit and faced a 49-day pass suspension, which Roque believes triggered the tragic outcome.
The last communication between mother and son occurred at 8:55 a.m. on August 18, 2025, when Antonio mentioned starting his guard duty. He died at 2:45 p.m. The official report labeled his death as a "personal decision," a claim Roque vehemently disputes, stating, "My son's death was simply a reaction to provoked actions within the unit."
The case was provisionally dismissed on July 2, 2026, when Prosecutor Velázquez informed the family of the file's closure. No officials have faced charges to date.
"It's a complete and utter mockery, and a constant back-and-forth that parents who dare to report the horrors of Cuba's mandatory military service endure," Roque declared.
This incident is part of a documented trend of deaths within the mandatory military service. A report by elTOQUE published on September 28 recorded at least 89 recruit deaths from 2017 to 2026, with a sharp increase from 15 deaths between 2017 and 2021 to 70 between 2022 and 2025. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory raises the count to 97 deaths or disappearances from 2001 to spring 2026.
Roque announced plans to submit a third formal complaint to MINFAR and intends to continue raising the issue both nationally and internationally.
"I will never see him walk through my door again," she concluded in the video, lamenting the loss of her son.
Justice and Transparency in Cuban Military Deaths
What happened to Antonio Alejandro Rassi Roque?
Antonio Alejandro Rassi Roque, an 18-year-old recruit, died on August 18, 2025, at Military Unit 5050 "El Calvario" in Havana, only three weeks after starting his mandatory military service. His death was officially recorded as a "personal decision," a conclusion disputed by his mother, Mercedes Roque.
How has the Cuban government responded to Mercedes Roque's demands for justice?
Mercedes Roque's requests have been largely ignored by the Cuban government. Her formal complaint to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) has not been addressed as none of the requested officials were present at a recent meeting. The case was provisionally closed in July 2026, with no charges filed against any officials.
What is the broader context of deaths in Cuban military service?
A report by elTOQUE documented 89 recruit deaths between 2017 and 2026, with a significant rise in fatalities from 2022 to 2025. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory reports 97 deaths or disappearances from 2001 to spring 2026, highlighting a troubling pattern within Cuba's mandatory military service.