Former President Fidel Castro appeared for the first time after 14 months

Granma newspaper published four photos on its website showing 88-year-old Fidel Castro sitting in a car and shaking hands with people through the window.

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday (April 4) appeared in public for the first time in 14 months, dispelling Western media rumors about his deteriorating health.

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro shakes hands with people

Cuba's official newspaper, Granma, said that former President Fidel Castro met with a Venezuelan delegation visiting the island nation earlier this week. He shook hands with each delegate and the Venezuelan delegation was impressed by his lucidity and attention to current events in the South American country.

Venezuela was a regular supplier of oil to Cuba during the period of US economic embargo and former President Fidel Castro was personally very close to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Granma also published four photos on its website showing 88-year-old Fidel Castro sitting in a car and shaking hands with people through the window. Former Cuban President Fidel Castro left office in 2006 due to health reasons and has rarely appeared in public since then, most recently on January 8, 2014, when he attended an exhibition by a Cuban artist.

According to VOV