Fidel Castro, a firm defender of a multipolar world order: Russia

▲ The figure of Commander Fidel Castro remains present in the daily life of the inhabitants of Havana, who have had to redouble their efforts in the face of the intensification of the US blockade. Photo Ap

Juan Pablo Duch

Correspondent

La Jornada Newspaper Friday, August 14, 2026, p. 20

Moscow. In front of the statue of Fidel Castro in the Russian capital, in a square that bears the name of the leader of the Cuban revolution, hundreds of Muscovites gathered this Thursday to lay red flowers and pay tribute to him on the occasion of the centenary of his birth.

Organized by the Communist Party of Russia and the Cuban embassy, the event was attended by the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Ryabkov, who, while speaking on behalf of the Russian authorities, highlighted: “Fidel Castro will forever remain one of the most prominent symbols of his time, a figure of truly universal reach. He is a moral and ethical benchmark recognized in the defense of the principles of justice and equality. Thanks to his example of a selfless life, the peoples of many countries achieved independence and chose their own path of development.”

He noted: “he was a firm defender of the creation of a new multipolar world order and, although in his time these terms were not used, he led and foresaw much of what is happening and, I am sure, will continue to happen on the path toward liberation from imperialist shackles.”

For Ryabkov, “Fidel’s name is inextricably linked to the main currents of political and social development in the world of the second half of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st.”

He added that “Fidel became a leader of the liberation movement against dictates, for the affirmation of humanism, for the free expression of the will of the peoples, and for the authentic sovereignty of states.”

He pointed out: “despite the unprecedented tightening of Washington’s sanction pressure on Havana, to which an aggressive energy blockade has recently been added, the Cuban leaders, following Fidel Castro’s principles to the letter, demonstrate exceptional strength and courage when it comes to defending their sovereignty and carrying out an independent foreign policy.”

He stressed: “the imposition of new restrictive measures is a sign of the United States’ impotence, and it will not succeed in breaking the will of the Cuban people.”

Ryabkov praised “the courage, firmness, tenacity, faith in their own strength, and understanding of their own identity with which the Cuban people have been overcoming unimaginable trials for 70 years now in the face of the hegemonic and predatory ambitions of the US elite, which deserves immense respect.”

Referring to the ties that unite Russia and Cuba, the deputy foreign minister stressed: “together we have shown once again that no sanction is capable of hindering dialogue between peoples and cultures, nor the attraction between spiritually kindred people.”

Because, he added, “despite all the difficulties posed by our adversaries, the attempts to curb the momentum of our cooperation through intimidation and political blackmail, we do not give up and we will not give up.”

Ryabkov ended his words as follows: “Russia has always been and will always be by Cuba’s side. We are ready to offer our friendly shoulder. Long live our friendship, tested by time!”

For his part, the Cuban ambassador, Enrique Orta González, recalled that “Fidel engendered in his people a special affection for Russia. He was the architect of our relationship of unbreakable brotherhood. The commander made 10 visits to the Soviet Union and at all times highlighted his admiration for the Russian people, to whom he attributed a deep appreciation for peace, great generosity, and human nobility.”

The head of the Cuban legation referred to the threats facing the island, describing them as “serious and increasingly palpable.” He indicated that the prolonged economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by Washington against Havana, in effect for almost seven decades, has hardened in recent months, which has further reaffirmed its genocidal nature.

“The cruel blockade imposed against the Cuban people has multiplied the humanitarian damage inflicted on the population,” he lamented.

According to Orta González, “Cuba will respond with the dignity and firmness that our brave people have demonstrated. We learned from Fidel that freedom, justice, and dignity are principles that cannot be negotiated. Castro’s humanism, his revolutionary ethics, his dignity and integrity of character, his sense of justice, and his anti-imperialism are the fundamental pillars of Cuban action.”

One of the organizers of the event, Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of Russia, indicated: “for us, Fidel Castro is a model and an example to follow in these difficult times. He defeated everyone, he showed us how to fight, live, and win.”

The attendees, many of whom carried Cuban flags and t-shirts alluding to Fidel’s centenary, listened to the translation of the song El necio, by Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, and the song performed in Spanish by the Grenada Ensemble, a Russian musical group that for more than 50 years and with several generations of members has had a wide repertoire focused on songs from Latin America.

The ceremony, which began with a minute of silence in honor of the leader of the Cuban revolution, concluded when Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov and Ambassador Orta approached to extend the ribbons of the floral offerings, placed at the foot of the monument, made in bronze by sculptor Aleksei Chebanenko, where Fidel Castro can be seen standing on a rock, on which a stylized map of the largest of the Antilles is inscribed.