Fernando Gonzalez, a Cuban spy released from a US prison after serving 15 years, was greeted as a hero upon his return to Havana on Friday. Cuban President Raul Castro met him at the airport, saluting and embracing him warmly.
State TV interrupted its programming to announce the arrival of 'the hero of the Republic of Cuba and anti-terrorist fighter'. Gonzalez thanked Cubans for their support, describing his happiness as 'difficult to describe', but noted that 'a piece is still missing', referring to the three remaining imprisoned agents.
Gonzalez is the second of the so-called Cuban Five to be freed. The group was convicted in 2001 on charges including conspiracy to infiltrate US military bases and spy on Cuban exiles in Florida. Cuba maintains they were monitoring anti-communist exiles to prevent attacks on the island.
Originally sentenced to 19 years, Gonzalez's term was reduced. He served over 15 years. The first to be released was Rene Gonzalez in 2011. Antonio Guerrero is due for release in September 2017, Ramon Labanino in October 2024, and Gerardo Hernandez is serving a double life sentence for conspiracy to murder over the 1996 downing of two planes flown by a Cuban exile group.
The case has long strained US-Cuba relations, with Cuba campaigning vociferously for the men's freedom.
