A high-ranking official of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), who was listed among the regime's repressors, passed away on Wednesday in a car accident.
Omar Rafael García Lazo, 44, with an extensive history of serving the dictatorship, died "while returning to Havana after completing a work mission," the PCC revealed on its website.
Originally from Sandino, in Pinar del Río, García Lazo was included years ago in the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba list of repressors, where he was characterized as violent and accused of making threats, defamation, incitement to violence, and advising on acts of vandalism.
His name appears under the category of export repressors: those that Cuba sends abroad to organize repression in allied countries or subvert order in democratic states, or diplomats who distort the Cuban reality to the outside world.
A Social Communication graduate in 2005, García Lazo completed his social service in the Ideological Department of the Central Committee. After two years, he moved to the International Relations Department, where he was promoted to officer.
In 2017, he began his mission as the first secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Colombia until 2021 when the government of Iván Duque declared him persona non grata and expelled him after verifying that he was engaging in "activities incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," without further explanation.
Cuba described the expulsion order as an "unfounded decision" and "unfriendly," claiming it was an attempt by the Colombian government to divert attention from protests occurring in Panama around that time.
Upon his return to Havana, the ex-diplomat resumed his role as an officer in his former position at the Central Committee.
During his stay in Colombia, the now-deceased official attacked members of the San Isidro Movement in a Facebook post. "In matters of Cuba and counterrevolution, never go with the deceptive one, as ridicule awaits you. If millions of dollars haven't toppled a revolution, don't try it with 200. If the street belongs to the people, then the neighborhood does too. The networks are not #Cuba, no matter how many likes you have (check where they come from so you don't get dizzy)," he wrote in November 2020.
"If your thing is the pandemic and dollarized flu, choose: PCR or PNR," he added.
Frequently Asked Questions about Omar Rafael García Lazo's Death and Diplomatic Career
To provide a deeper understanding of the events and implications surrounding the death of Omar Rafael García Lazo, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Who was Omar Rafael García Lazo?
Omar Rafael García Lazo was a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of Cuba, known for his extensive history of service to the Cuban dictatorship and his involvement in repressive activities.
Why was Omar Rafael García Lazo expelled from Colombia?
He was declared persona non grata and expelled by the Colombian government in 2021 for engaging in activities that were incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
What was García Lazo's role in the San Isidro Movement controversy?
During his time in Colombia, García Lazo made a Facebook post attacking members of the San Isidro Movement, a group of Cuban artists and activists opposing the Cuban government.