Raul Castro Did Not Flee to Venezuela
The Claim
The following image was taken on July 11 and shows former Cuban President Raul Castro disembarking from an airplane after fleeing Cuba to Venezuela.
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The claim went viral on July 12, 2021, in response to the anti-government protests taking place in Cuba.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar found no evidence that Castro fled Cuba on July 11, shortly after the anti-government protests erupted in the country. According to the Associated Press, former president Castro accompanied current President Miguel Díaz-Canel during a July 17 rally on Malecon boulevard in Havana. Therefore, Castro was clearly still in Cuba nearly a week after he had supposedly fled to Venezuela.
A reverse image search of the photo showing Castro disembarking from an airplane reveals that it was taken during a 2015 visit to Costa Rica. The image was featured on the Costa Rican news site La Nacion in a story covering Castro visiting the country to attend the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit.
There are several factors that led to the protests in Cuba. This includes an economic and health crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has crippled the massive tourist industry on the island, impacting the economic and social life of many residents. Additionally, rising inflation and food and medicine shortages have worsened the situation in the country.
