To promote a peaceful transition to a Cuba that respects human rights
and political and economic freedoms
Cuban regime turns to advice from Russian oligarch. The Cuban oligarchs among us. Castro dictatorship taken to London's High Court to pay past debts
Castro regime's consigliere and emerging oligarch, Dr. Rodolfo Dávalos Fernández
The Castro regime's oligarchs are emerging, and the dictatorship is openly seeking advice from Russia on how to replicate their model of enriching a well-connected few while impoverishing the many. According to Nora Gámez Torres of The Miami Herald, in her article Cuba wants Russia's advice on market reforms as Putin seeks more trade with the island, "the Cuban government is turning to Russia for help with market reforms on the island through a partnership with a Russian think tank headed by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska."
The timing of this news coincides with news on January 23rd that Charles McGonigal, "a former high-ranking FBI counterintelligence official who investigated Russian oligarchs has been indicted on charges he secretly worked for one, in violation of U.S. sanctions." Days earlier on January 20th the U.S. Department of Justice arrested "two businessmen, Vladislav Osipov, 51, a Russian national, and Richard Masters, 52, a United Kingdom national" were charged "with facilitating a sanctions evasion and money laundering scheme in relation to the ownership and operation of" ... "a $90 million, 255-foot luxury yacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg."
When attempting to avoid paying debts, sanctions evasion and money laundering come in handy. As Mr. Putin has demonstrated in Russia, concentrating wealth in the hands of a few within the government or closely connected to those in the regime is an effective means of maintaining political power. Cuba already has crony capitalism for the well-connected regime elites and communism for the poor, but it seeks to perfect it with Moscow's help. Unfortunately, the Castro regime also has crony capitalists in the United States all too willing to help, and their Cuban counterparts are already there ready to meet with them.
Rodolfo Dávalos León is a Cuban national living in the United States who founded Caribbean Ventures Management LLC, a company incorporated in the state of Delaware in 2016, but headquartered in Coral Gables, Miami. When protests erupted across Cuba on July 11, 2021, and the dictatorship's future in doubt, Mr. Dávalos León tweeted out "If the revolution falls you will find me in Cuba, with my father, knee on ground, rifle in hand, defending the work of Fidel. Long live Cuba, long live Raul, and long live Fidel!"
A couple of questions should naturally arise. Has the FBI looked into what he is doing? Also, who is his father?
Publicly available photos indicate that he met with Ben Rhodes in Coral Gables, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy in the U.S. Capitol.
His father is a highly placed confidant of Fidel and Raul Castro. Dr. Rodolfo Dávalos Fernández is a professor of International Law at the University of Havana and president of the Cuban Court of International Commercial Arbitration, according to official records.
Cuban independent journalist Ulises Fernández in a July 2021 piece for Cubanet filled in some of the gaps in the professor's official record. Dr. Dávalos Fernández was present in "every international litigation that involved the Cuban government as defendant, plaintiff, summoned party, or even referenced entity, in matters unpleasant in nature, since they always have to do with breach of contracts, frozen bank accounts, confiscations, accumulated debts, fraudulent practices against businessmen, blackmail, espionage and psychological manipulation..."
The Cuban dictatorship is in "a high-stakes legal battle in London's High Court" trying to avoid having to pay "72 million euros ($78.18 million) on two loans" granted in the 1980s. The Castro regime is being represented by a deep bench of attorneys, however one name stands out. According to the regime's official media Dr. Dávalos Fernández, is "playing an essential role in the legal strategy of the case, and has extensive experience in international litigation."
Not mentioned is that he is one of the patriarchs of the new Cuban oligarchy with his children positioned with lucrative lifestyles in private companies in the United States, and Spain.
Dr. Rodolfo Dávalos Fernández with his daughter Lourdes Dávalos León
We've already touched on Rodolfo Dávalos León who is based in Coral Gables. Now let us turn to his sister, Lourdes Dávalos León, who is an attorney based in Spain, and is also a social influencer with a taste for Louis Vuitton handbags, and the finer things in life. She appeared with her dad in London to attend the ongoing legal battle in London's High Court. Video emerged highlighting their lifestyles of the rich and infamous.
The Biden Administration is fooling itself if they believe that these "entrepreneurs" will be agents of a democratic transition in Cuba. More likely, like their Russian counterparts, they will be agents of corruption in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere seeking to undermine the rule of law and democracy.
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