Havana , Cuba ( CNN ) Photos published in Cuba 's state-run press on Monday show Fidel Castro meeting with five Cuban intelligence agents who served lengthy prison sentences in the United States . Castro reportedly met the agents Saturday at his home in Havana , ending speculation over why the former Cuban President had not yet seen the men , who are referred to as `` the five heroes '' by Cuba 's government . The last of the agents returned to Cuba in December following a prisoner swap that also freed U.S. State Department contractor Alan Gross , who was jailed in Cuba . The swap coincided with an announcement of a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba . Castro 's wife , Dalia Soto del Valle , is also shown , as is his nephew Alejandro Castro Espín , the son of Cuban President Raul Castro and a colonel in Cuba 's Interior Ministry . These `` anti-terrorist heroes never did any harm to the United States , '' Fidel Castro wrote in an article published in the daily Communist Party newspaper Granma on Monday , which said he met with them for five hours . `` They tried to prevent and impede terrorist acts against our people . '' U.S. officials have said the men were part of a spy ring that monitored the anti-Castro Cuban exile community and military installations in Florida . Castro on Monday though said the men were not spying on U.S. military capabilities , stating that a now-shuttered Russian spy station allowed the Cubans to be aware of any impending U.S. attack on the island . `` That center allowed us to be aware of any object that moved thousands of miles from our country , '' Castro wrote , referring the Lourdes spy base in Cuba , which Russia closed in 2001 . The men were arrested in 1998 and charged with carrying out a slew of intelligence gathering activities . Seven other agents agreed to cooperate with U.S. prosecutors , but five of the agents refused to switch sides . The men were lauded as heroes by the Cuban government , which held large demonstrations demanding their release in front of the U.S . Interests Section in Havana . Agents Rene Gonzalez , 58 , and Fernandez Gonzalez , 51 , returned to Cuba in 2014 after serving their prison sentences . The remaining three agents -- Gerardo Hernandez , 49 ; Antonio Guerrero , 56 ; and Ramon Labañino , 51 -- were transferred to Cuba a part of a prisoner swap after serving 16 years in U.S. prisons . Last month , all five were presented with the Hero of the Republic award , the highest honor presented by the Cuban government . Many Cubans though wondered why the men had not yet met with Fidel Castro , who had championed their cause during his final years as President . In the article published on Monday , Castro said he had not seen the men previously to allow them time with their families and to undergo extensive medical checkups .
Pictures released Monday show Fidel Castro meeting with five Cuban intelligence agents . The agents were jailed in the United States for many years .