If you were the KGB, would you ask someone who had publicly defected to Russia and been jailed for handing out leaflets for Free Play for Cuba?
Not exactly a low profile assassin. Russia or Cuba would have used someone less connected to them. Otherwise the chance of nuclear retaliation and war would have been too great.
Well, no. But then, neither would I have gotten that Aga chap to shoot the Pope, when he had so many incriminating items on his résumé.
Excellent point, though. But, does it let Castro off the hook?
No, but Castro might. Castro was mighty PO'ed at the Russians for not backing him to the hilt in the Cuban Missile Crisis -- he wanted the Russians to fire the nukes. Given his attitude then, it would have been perfect for Castro to use a disgruntled US citizen with strong ties to the Soviet Union. Very provacative.