Official documents expose privileges of the Cuban elite and discretionary use of diplomatic passports.
Miami, United States. – Official documents of the Cuban regime filtered and obtained by Martí News They reveal that Vilma Rodríguez Castro, granddaughter of the dictator Raúl Castro, made at least five trips to New York between 2012 and 2016 with diplomatic passport and with completely covered expenses, sometimes also for her youngest son.
The documents, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (Minrex), detail that these trips were authorized by said Ministry and had the approval of the immigration authorities of the United States. The reasoned reason for these visits was participation in cultural activities such as international fairs, art exhibitions and presentations, he said Martí News.
This is “one of the most significant leaks of official Cuban documents in years”, according to the media, which underlines how the information exposes the privileges of the descendants of General Raúl Castro, who, unlike millions of Cuban citizens, have traveled unrestricted to the United States and out of the reach of US sanctions.
Cuban journalist and researcher Miguel Cossío explained that in Cuba the use of diplomatic passports does not restrict officials in official missions. “Family members of senior leaders are also granted for reasons of ‘National Security’, which allows them to avoid ordinary migratory controls,” he said.
During these trips, Rodríguez Castro was invited by organizations such as The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation and Cuban Artists Fund, which they affirmed in their invitation letters that would cover all expenses – including transport and lodging – and that the funds did not come from public resources. Until the date of publication of the report, none of these entities responded to the requests for comments made by Martí News.
In July 2016, Rodríguez Castro traveled accompanied by his youngest son, who also used a diplomatic passport. Both entered through one of the New York airports to attend an event organized by Cuban Artists Fund. Miami artists who were present in this activity said that Raúl Castro’s granddaughter was “all the time guarded by officials of the Cuban diplomatic headquarters in New York.”
Consulted by Martí Newsa spokesman for the United States Department of the United States avoided ruling on specific travelers, but offered a statement on Washington’s position: “The hypocrisy of the Cuban regime is well known throughout the world and by their own people. While the Cuban people suffer hung luxuries, including frequent trips abroad. ”
The spokesman added: “The Trump administration has done more than any other in the history of the United States to demand responsibilities to the Cuban regime for its atrocious behavior, partly revoking the visas and immigration status of officials and former officials of the regime, their relatives and human rights violators in Cuba.”
Rodríguez Castro is married to the self -taught artist Arles del Río, whose works have been exhibited In New York and At the Art Basel Fair in Miami.
Arles del Río received important scholarships in the United States, such as those of Vermont Studio Center (2013) and Cuban Artists Fund (2014), which included financial support and legitimation opportunities in international art circuits. In 2014, Diary of Cuba He reported that the regime granted him a large place on 12th Street of Vedado to establish his gallery-study.
“He is the type of creator who plays with the chain but not with the monkey. He had links with Raúl Castro even before marrying his daughter,” he told Martí News An artist linked to the official cultural circuit.
In September 2020, The US government imposed sanctions on the four children of Raúl Castroincluding Deborah Castro Espín, mother of Vilma Rodríguez. In the same package, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, Brigade General, former Deborah and father of Vilma was sanctioned. The general controlled the country’s military business apparatus until his death in 2022. his son, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro – known as “El Crab”– And their daughter Vilma, have inherited much of that power, although so far none has been included in the sanctions lists of the State Department or the Department of the Treasury.
Nor have the direct descendants of Fidel Castro be sanctioned.
In April 2019, Vilma Rodríguez monopolized attention for revealing that rented a mansion in the exclusive Miramar cast, in Havana, through the Airbnb platform. The property, named Luxury Holidays House, was rented for $ 650 a night. Following these complaints, the United States government added the management of the property to its list of entities forbidden for US citizens.
