Who Was Raul Castro's Wife, Vilma Espin? All About Ex-Cuban Leader's Family Amid His Indictment

Former Cuban leader, Raúl Castro, has once again come under global attention after the U.S. The Department of Justice announced their ruling against him. They levied multiple federal criminal charges against him linked to the 1986 Brothers to the Rescue plane shootdown. The indictment has once again placed his family and political legacy under scrutiny. He was charged in relation to a nearly 30-year-old downing of two civilian aircraft operated by a Miami-based humanitarian group, Brothers to the Rescue, killing four people. Meanwhile, let us know more about Raul's wife and kids. 

Who was Raúl Castro's wife, Vilma Espín?

Raúl Castro was married to Vilma Espín. Before their marriage, she was already one of the most popular women of the Cuban Revolution. She was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1930 in a wealthy family. But despite her privileged background, she became a part of the revolutionary efforts against Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Vilma was highly educated. In fact, she became one of the first women in Cuba to get a degree in Chemical engineering. She later studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning to Cuba. 

Following her return, she became deeply involved in underground resistance movements. According to records, she worked closely with revolutionary organiser, Frank Pais. Eventually, she joined their guerrilla forces. Around the same time, she met Raul and became a symbolic female face in photos of armed female fights in the country. Later, she married Raul after the forces overthrew the government and took control of the country. 

Over time, Vilma became one of the most powerful women in the country. She founded the Federation of Cuban Women and often represented her country at international conferences on women's rights. According to author, Ann Louise Bardach, she carried a 'certain kind of regality' due to her past achievements. Some rumours later suggested that she had privately separated from Raúl, but they were never confirmed. The couple used to attend public events together until she died in 2007 after a long illness. 

More about Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín's kids 

Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín had four children together. They are Alejandro, Mariela, Deborah and Nilsa Castro Espín. Due to their parentage, they grew up in Cuba's political and military environment. However, they went down different paths. Alejandro became one of the most influential security figures in the country, while Mariela is a globally recognised LGBTQ activist. On the other hand, Deborah followed in her mother's footsteps, studying chemical engineering, and married one of the country's most powerful military-business leaders, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Callejas. Meanwhile, Nilsa has stayed out of the public eye. 

Where is Raúl Castro now?

Raúl Castro is alive and in Cuba. He is 94 years old and stepped down from being Cuba's most powerful political role in 2021. He also retired as First Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party. Although he is not the face of the Cuban government, he is an influential symbol of the ruling regime. After his U.S. indictment, Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel called the charges "politically motivated". But, U.S. officials insist the charges are tied to the deaths in the 1996 aircraft incident. 

What do you think about Raúl Castro's indictment in the U.S.?

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Pic credits: NBC, Miamiherald/ Instagram, CBS, AP

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