Former Cuban leader Raul Castro made his first public appearance in Havana since the Trump administration filed murder charges against him, according to reports from the event.

The charges stem from the 1996 shoot-down of Brothers to the Rescue planes over Cuban airspace. The Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based organization that conducted flights near Cuban territory, often dropping anti-government leaflets.

Castro, who served as Cuba's president from 2008 to 2018 after taking over from his brother Fidel Castro, had maintained a lower public profile in recent years. His appearance at the Havana event marks his return to public view amid the ongoing legal proceedings.

The 1996 incident has remained a source of tension between the United States and Cuba for decades. The shoot-down occurred during a period of heightened tensions between the two countries, which have had no formal diplomatic relations for much of the past six decades.

Castro's public appearance comes as Cuba continues to face economic challenges and international pressure. The timing of his emergence following the US charges adds another layer of complexity to the already strained US-Cuba relationship.