Cuban President Honors Fidel Castro in Russia
As a child honoring the legacy of his father, our president and his delegation, on an official visit to Russia for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, visited the statue of the Cuban Commander in chief in the district of Sokol, Moscow.
With this sculpture of Fidel, the Russian people pay homage to who they described as a paradigm of Latin America and the world. The sculpture was inaugurated on November 22, 2022 by President Putin and President Diaz-Canel.
During the inauguration President Putin described Fidel, who he met, as someone able to consider not only the people of Cuba but of the whole Latin America and the world. President Putin also mentioned Fidel’s preoccupation for the common welfare and justice, a unique personality that Latin America gifts us all with. (Find the exact words of his speech below). at the time included below.
During that act President Díaz-Canel explained that Fidel understood well “the links of fraternity that have united both our nations” and he also admired “the greatness of the soviet people during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), its humanism and its capacity for sacrifice to save the entire humanity from fascism."
The square also has Fidel’s name since 2017, the sculpture made of bronze, measures 3 meters in height and represents the bearded Young man with military uniform and his traditional beret, standing on a block of Stone with the map of Cuba.
According to the architect and the sculptor of the monument, Andrey Beliy y Alexey Chebanenko respectively, the sculpture represents the heroic path of a man who defends the rights of people in his country.
Prior to this stop, President Diaz-Canel participated in the act celebrating the 65th anniversary of the re-establishment of Cuban-Russian relations in may 8th, 1960. During this celebration he confirmed that the Cuban-Russian friendship has overcome the trials of time and the most complex and diverse international circumstances.
“History has taught us that in the middle of challenges, cooperation and solidarity are fundamental values of our relations. Today we still have many challenges and motivation to continue together in our path of freedom and in defense of peace, human development and the future of our peoples.”
This Wednesday morning also included the Act by which comrade Guennadi Zuganov of the Communist Party of Russia honored the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President Diaz-Canel, with a medal commemorating the 80th anniversary of the great victory.
Diaz-Canel, together with more than 20 chiefs of state and government, will be part of May 9th celebrations of the Victory over Fascism and the end of WWII parade which traditionally takes place in historic Red Square in Moscow.
Prensa Latina, May 7, 2025.
Translation NSCUBA
November 22, 2022.
Fidel Castro monument in Moscow.
Discourse of President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
“Mr President, Cuban guests, Muscovites, friends,
We have gathered here, on a square named after Fidel Castro, to unveil a monument to this outstanding statesman and political figure, the founder of the modern Cuban state.
Fidel Castro dedicated his life to the selfless struggle to advance the ideas of goodness, peace and justice, for the freedom of oppressed peoples, for a decent life for ordinary people and social equality.
He is rightfully considered one of the most colourful and charismatic leaders of the turbulent and dramatic 20th century, a truly legendary person and a symbol of an era of national liberation movements, the collapse of the colonial system and the creation of new independent states in Latin America and Africa.
Fidel and his associates have selflessly defended the sovereignty of their native country; they did not allow it to be broken by the intervention of mercenaries, sanctions, financial or economic embargo, or attempts at external isolation; they upheld Cuba’s right to its own development model in accordance with national rather than externally imposed values; and made sure that the world takes into account Cuba’s opinion and respects its interests.
For many generations of our fellow citizens, the image of the Comandante has always been shrouded in romantic glory, courage and victories. The lyrics of the well-known Soviet song Cuba, My Love! reflected our sincere and enthusiastic feelings not only for the Island of Freedom and the entire Cuban people, but also directly for Fidel, whose strength, energy and unbending will attracted and still attract people like a magnet.
Friends, I was lucky enough to meet with Fidel Castro on several occasions, and I still remember many hours of conversations with him, especially our last conversation in July 2014.
He talked about the things that were surprisingly consonant with the time –- the time of the development of a multipolar world – saying that independence and dignity cannot be put up for sale and that every nation is entitled to develop as it sees fit and to choose its own path, and that a truly fair world has no place for dictatorship, plunder or neo-colonialism. His encyclopaedic knowledge, deep understanding of the underlying causes of events, sharpness of mind, and accuracy of assessments were striking.
He talked about the things that were surprisingly consonant with the time –- the time of the development of a multipolar world – saying that independence and dignity cannot be put up for sale and that every nation is entitled to develop as it sees fit and to choose its own path, and that a truly fair world has no place for dictatorship, plunder or neo-colonialism. His encyclopaedic knowledge, deep understanding of the underlying causes of events, sharpness of mind, and accuracy of assessments were striking.
Fidel was a true friend of our country and often came to see us. In 1963, he travelled around almost the entire Soviet Union. He was always a welcome guest in Moscow and loved it very much. As Fidel said, he was willing to come to Russia any time, summer or winter, with or without snow.
Our country has always supported the freedom-loving Cuban people and the leadership of the Republic. And we know it is a mutual feeling. Cuba has been, is and, I am sure, will always be our consistent strategic partner and ally in international affairs.
Friends,
Our country has always supported the freedom-loving Cuban people and the leadership of the Republic. And we know it is a mutual feeling. Cuba has been, is and, I am sure, will always be our consistent strategic partner and ally in international affairs.
Friends,
The Russian-Cuban friendship that was bequeathed to us by Fidel Castro is the common legacy of our peoples. Mr President, you represent the new generation of Cuban leaders and you are making an enormous contribution to promoting friendly and trust-based relations between our countries.
We will join efforts in order to strengthen our alliance and to defend the great values of freedom, equality and justice.
Thank you for the attention.
We will join efforts in order to strengthen our alliance and to defend the great values of freedom, equality and justice.
Thank you for the attention.
