Cuba marks Red Army's victory over fascism

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By Lissel Pino Ceballos, translated from the Spanish

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Red Army's victory over fascism during the Great Patriotic War on May 9, a political event and military ceremony were held on May 3 at the Memorial to the Soviet Internationalist Soldier in Havana

The tribute was presided over by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic; Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Party's Central Committee; and Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera, member of the Political Bureau, Hero of the Republic of Cuba, and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). The ambassadors to Cuba of the Russian Federation, and of the republics of Belarus and Azerbaijan also attended.

Also present were senior commanders of the FAR and the Ministry of the Interior (MINIT), Hero of the Republic of Cuba Fernando González Llort, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), a representation of the military diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba, cadets from the FAR's higher education institutions, and members of the military and combatant ranks of the Havana Military Region.

At the beginning of the ceremony, wreaths were laid on behalf of the Russian Federation, the republics of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, as well as ICAP and the FAR.

During his speech, His Excellency Victor Koronelli, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Cuba, stated: "We, the children and grandchildren, heirs of the victors, together with our likeminded friends and comrades throughout the world, must do everything possible to ensure that the truth about the Second World War and its heroes is preserved."

For his part, Roberto Morales Ojeda stated: "The great epic of the Soviet people is a worthy example to follow and remember. The victory over fascism, which saved the lives of millions of people, demonstrated that unity is decisive in every battle and that together we are stronger and more capable of overcoming any adversity. This will always be indispensable in this new struggle against imperialism and its current fascist expressions."

Following a parade of the ceremonial units of the FAR and the MININT, Díaz-Canel and the other members of the delegation laid roses before the sculpture commemorating Army General Issa Aleksandrovich Pliyev, twice Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II, who was the commander of the Soviet troops in Cuba during the tense days of the October Crisis in 1962.

This political act and military ceremony symbolize Cuba's unwavering commitment to historical memory and the struggle for a world free from oppression. Cuba honors the courage of those who resisted the advance of fascism, remembering that unity and determination are essential to preserving peace and justice.

Related: We must always be alert to the danger of fascism

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