Cuba declares official mourning for Vice Prime Minister Ramiro Valdés

Cuba has declared 18 hours of official mourning following the death of Vice Prime Minister Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a prominent historical figure of the island's revolution. The mourning period is set to begin at 6:00 AM local time on Tuesday, June 23, and conclude at midnight.

Valdés, who was 94 years old, passed away in Havana. The Cuban government announced his death on Sunday, honoring his "brilliant and extraordinary record of service to the Homeland" and noting his "respect and admiration from the people of Cuba for his dedication and proven loyalty to the revolutionary cause."

President Miguel Díaz-Canel conveyed his profound sadness over the loss of the "Commander of the Revolution," describing Valdés as a father figure whose support and counsel he always valued. Díaz-Canel highlighted Valdés's unwavering fidelity to Fidel and Raúl Castro, and his lifelong defense of the revolution's core principles, dating back to the 1953 attack on the Moncada barracks.

Ramiro Valdés was among the last surviving members of the revolution's founding generation. He participated alongside Fidel Castro in key events, including the Moncada attack, the Granma expedition, and the Sierra Maestra guerrilla campaign, where he served as second-in-command under Che Guevara. He held numerous high-ranking positions, including Minister of the Interior, Vice Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Vice Prime Minister. He was also a founding member of the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba.