HAVANA, Cuba (AP) 鈥� Ramiro Vald茅s Men茅ndez, a former vice president and a key figure of the who fought alongside Fidel Castro, died Sunday, the Communist Party and Cuba鈥檚 government said. He was 94.
Vald茅s was one of the closest allies of Fidel and his brother Ra煤l Castro since the 1953 attack on the Moncada barracks that marked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. He remained an influential figure in the following decades.
The joint statement did not provide details on the cause of death.
鈥淩amiro Vald茅s Men茅ndez deserves the respect and admiration of the people for his dedication and proven loyalty to the revolutionary cause,鈥� said the statement published by the official news portal Cubadebate.
On X, President said Vald茅s鈥� death hurt like the loss of a father.
鈥淓very act in Commander Ramiro鈥檚 life was marked by his absolute loyalty to the leadership of Fidel and Ra煤l,鈥� President Miguel D铆az-Canel said.
Vald茅s was born April 28, 1932, in the western city of Artemisa.
He was 21 when he joined Fidel Castro鈥檚 1953 attack on the Moncada military barracks, the opening act of the revolution that would eventually overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Vald茅s later fought under the command of legendary guerrilla leader and became one of the few rebels to hold the honorary title of Commander of the Revolution. He was also awarded the title 鈥淗ero of the Republic of Cuba.鈥�
Vald茅s fell out with Fidel Castro while serving as interior minister in 1986 and was considered out of the main circle of power until 2003, when he rejoined the Council of State.
In 2006, Raul Castro chose Vald茅s to lead the telecommunications ministry in his first major decision after taking over presidential powers from his convalescing brother, Fidel. Three years later, Vald茅s was elevated to vice president.
Just before turning 79 in 2011, he was elected the Communist Party鈥檚 number three leader, behind only Ra煤l Castro and Jos茅 Ram贸n Machado Ventura, another veteran revolutionary figure.
Vald茅s rarely appeared in public and never spoke to the press.
After his clash with Castro, he disappeared from public life until 1997, when he led a mission to Bolivia to locate and repatriate the remains of Guevara, who had been killed in the South American country three decades earlier while attempting to spark a revolution there.
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