Russia, China and allies

Cuban Air Force MiG fighters shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft from the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue in international waters, resulting in the death of four crew members.

Pilots Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales, who were conducting humanitarian missions to save Cuban rafters fleeing the island.

Raúl Castro was the head of the Armed Forces in 1996, and recorded evidence exists of him taking responsibility for the order. The recent capture of Venezuela's Maduro has increased hopes for justice.

A U.S. court convicted Gerardo Hernández (of the Wasp Network) of conspiracy to commit murder regarding the shootdown, but the top leadership in Havana has never faced criminal charges.

Daria Mitina is the secretary of Russia's United Communist Party and hosts a political commentary program on Pravda.ru. Her criticism carries symbolic weight precisely because it comes from Cuba's own ideological camp — the Russian left, which has historically been one of Havana's strongest supporters.