Cuban President declares Official Mourning on the death of Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez 

By means of Presidential Decree 1247/2026, exercising the powers conferred by Article 128, paragraph ñ), of the Constitution, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic, declared Official Mourning, on the death of Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, from 6:00 a.m. on June 23rd until midnight of the same day.
While the Official Mourning is in effect, the Lone Star Flag will be flown at half-mast in public buildings and military institutions.
The ministers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, of the Interior and of Foreign Relations, are in charge of compliance with the provisions of the Presidential Decree.

Presidential Decree 1247/2026

MIGUEL DÍAZ-CANEL BERMÚDEZ, President of the Republic.
I HEREBY ANNOUNCE: That by virtue of the provisions of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and Article 24, paragraph x) of Law 136 “On the President and Vice President of the Republic of Cuba,” of October 28, 2020, I have considered the following:

WHEREAS: With profound sorrow, the leadership of the Party, the State, and the Government inform our people that on the morning of Sunday, June 21st, the historic Commander of the Revolution, Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, Hero of the Republic of Cuba and of Labor, passed away. He possessed a brilliant and extraordinary record of service to the Homeland.
A participant in the attack on the Moncada Barracks, a member of the Granma expedition, a combatant in the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra, second-in-command of the invading Column No. 8 Ciro Redondo, and a protagonist alongside Che Guevara in the Battle of Santa Clara, Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez is deserving of the respect and admiration of the Cuban people for his dedication and proven loyalty to the revolutionary cause.

THEREFORE: In the exercise of the powers conferred by Article 128, paragraph ñ) of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, I have decided to issue the following:

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1247
FIRST: To declare Official Mourning, on the occasion of the death of Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, from 6:00 a.m. on June 23rd until midnight of the same day.
SECOND: To order that, while the Official Mourning period is in effect, the Flag of the Lone Star be flown at half-staff on public buildings and military institutions.
THIRD: The Ministers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Interior, and Foreign Affairs are charged with the implementation of the provisions of this Decree.

PUBLISH in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba.

GIVEN at the Palace of the Revolution, on the 21st day of June, 2026, "Year of the Centennial of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz."

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
President of the Republic