Cuba–United States relations

U.S. judge says Cuban spy can remain on the island

Agencia EFEMay 3, 2013 19:00

Miami, May 3 (EFE).- Rene Gonzalez, currently on probation after serving 13 years in a U.S. prison for espionage, may remain in Cuba - where he traveled last month with court approval - if he agrees to give up his U.S. citizenship, a federal judge said Friday. "If defendant voluntarily renounces his United States citizenship ... (he) shall serve the remainder of his supervised-release term in Cuba on a non-reporting basis, and shall not return to the United States," U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard ruled.

'Cuban Five' member can stay in Cuba: US court

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 18:45

A member of the "Cuban Five" group convicted of espionage in the United States will be allowed to remain permanently in Cuba in exchange for renouncing his US citizenship, a Florida court ruled on Friday. Rene Gonzalez, 56, who was on probation in the United States after serving 13 years in prison for espionage, has been in Cuba since traveling there to attend the April 22 burial of his father. A US federal court in Miami ruled that he will be permitted to remain there on the condition that he give up his US citizenship and never come back to the United States.

'Cuban Five' member can stay in Cuba: US court

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 17:37

Cuban regime like a crumbling house: dissident blogger

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 12:31

Cuba's communist regime is like an ageing house on the verge of collapse, leading dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez said Thursday, insisting Havana's timid reforms were a smokescreen. "The so-called Raulista changes are superficial," Sanchez told reporters, referring to President Raul Castro, who replaced his ailing brother and 1959 revolutionary leader Fidel seven years ago. "The Cuban model is like a house in Old Havana. You look at the house and ask how it's possible that it's still standing," she said in Geneva, where she was attending a UN human rights meeting.

Cuba says US must shut Guantanamo, hand back base

Agence France-PresseMay 1, 2013 13:30

Cuba's foreign minister demanded Wednesday that Washington shut its controversial jail at Guantanamo Bay and return the long-held military base to Havana. The comments by Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva came a day after US President Barack Obama vowed again to shut the military prison, saying it was damaging US interests.

Cuba's young real estate market buzzes with activity despite imperfections, lack of capital

The Canadian PressApril 30, 2013 04:31

HAVANA - In some ways, Yosuan Crespo's real estate office resembles any you might find in New York, London or Tokyo. There are slick posters of hot properties hanging from the ceiling, a steady stream of hopeful buyers and sellers and a constant clack of computer keys. But Crespo's headquarters in central Havana's trendy Vedado neighbourhood is actually somebody else's breezy front porch. The computer's only connection to the Internet is a creaky dial-up link, and Crespo is careful to say he's not operating as a broker, since the job is still technically illegal.

Dissident says she expects a free Cuba soon with support from exiles

Agencia EFEApril 28, 2013 16:15

Miami, Apr 28 (EFE).- The head of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, told Efe that she believes that a free Cuba will soon become a reality "with the support of the Cuban exiles and all lovers of liberty." "I have faith in Christ that we're going to achieve a free and democratic Cuba but, also, a Cuba without the Castros," the human rights activist said in a meeting Saturday with members of the Cuban exile community in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables.

U.S. announces espionage charge against former government lawyer

Thomson ReutersApril 25, 2013 19:16

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday alleged that a former federal government lawyer helped the Cuban intelligence service recruit a woman who was later sentenced to 25 years in prison for spying. An indictment filed in 2004 was unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Marta Rita Velazquez with conspiracy to commit espionage for her alleged role in recruiting Ana Belen Montes to the Cuban intelligence service and helping her get a federal government job.

Ex-State Dept employee indicted on Cuba spy charge

Agence France-PresseApril 25, 2013 18:15

The United States has indicted a former State Department employee now living in Sweden with conspiracy to commit espionage for Cuba, the Justice Department announced Thursday. In a statement, justice officials said that Marta Rita Velazquez, 55, allegedly helped to "spot, assess and recruit US citizens" in sensitive national security positions to serve as Cuban intelligence agents. One of those citizens was Ana Belen Montes, 55, currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in Texas after pleading guilty in March 2002 of conspiracy to spy on behalf of Cuba's communist regime.

Ex-US govt employee indicted on Cuba spy charge

Agence France-PresseApril 25, 2013 16:15

The United States has indicted a former State Department employee now living in Sweden with conspiracy to commit espionage for Cuba, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Justice officials said that Marta Rita Velazquez, 55, allegedly helped to "spot, assess and recruit US citizens" in sensitive national security positions to serve as Cuban intelligence agents. One of those citizens was Ana Belen Montes, 55, currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in March 2002 of conspiracy to spy on behalf of Cuba's communist regime.