Cuba releases Vaughan businessman
Cy Tokmakjian returns to Canada, but resolution of corruption charges unclear
A Vaughan businessman sentenced last year to15 years in a Cuban prison is back in Canada, though the circumstances of his return are unclear.
Cy Tokmakjian, founder of automotive company Tokmakjian Group, arrived back home Saturday afternoon after three years in Cuba involved in what his firm called a “prolonged legal dispute.”
The company announced the return of Tokmakjian, who is in his 70s, in a statement, though it offered few details beyond saying that the businessman is in good health.
“Cy and his family respectfully ask for some time and privacy as they reconnect with their father and grandfather,” the statement read.
“There will be no further media commentary at this time.”
Reached by phone, a family spokesman reiterated that stance, though he confirmed that the family has hired Navigator, a “high-stakes public strategy and communications firm” known for handling crises.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is similarly tight-lipped.
“Canadian consular officials have provided assistance to Mr. Tokmakjian and his family, and Canadian officials have been active in raising his case with senior Cuban officials,” a spokeswoman said. “To protect the privacy of the individual, further details cannot be released.”
Last year, Tokmakjian was tried and sentenced to prison on corruption-related charges after being held for more than two years.
His family and company insist the charges were completely false.
The case was seen by some as a loose end in the U.S.-Cuba deal that led to the release of three Cuban intelligence agents in exchange for U.S. contractor Alan Gross and CIA spy Rolando Sarraff Trujillo.
Canada and the Vatican hosted key talks in 18 months of negotiations leading up to the exchange, which was accompanied by a joint move to
“The Tokmakjian family is sincerely thankful for the tremendous support of Canada throughout this ordeal.” BARRY PAPAZIAN TOKMAKJIAN GROUP LAWYER
restore full diplomatic relations between the countries.
Canadian officials declined to comment on whether the deal boosted their efforts to win freedom for Tokmakjian, who was arrested in a 2011 anti-graft drive that also swept up Cuban officials and foreign business executives from at least five nations.
Tokmakjian was sentenced in September and his representatives said that firm managers Claudio Vetere and Marco Puche got shorter sentences. Their whereabouts were not immediately clear Saturday.
Cuban President Raul Castro has said that rooting out rampant corruption is one of the country’s most important challenges.
Barry Papazian, lawyer for the family and the Tokmakjian Group, said in a statement Saturday that Tokmakjian is in “fantastic sprits, and is looking forward to spending time with his family, which includes three loving children and seven excited grandchildren.”
“The Tokmakjian family is sincerely thankful for the tremendous support of Canada throughout this ordeal,” Papazian added. With files from Star wire services