Moscow, Sep 11 (Prensa Latina) The president of the Russian Society of Friendship with Cuba (SRAC), Alexei Lavrov, participated today in Crimea in activities commemorating the centenary of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.
According to Prensa Latina, the professor at the Higher School of Economics met in Simferopol with students from Crimea’s leading universities and active members of the SRAC, who discussed the Association’s 60th anniversary.
Lavrov, for his part, emphasized that 2026 will be a unique year for its memorable dates in Cuban history and Russian-Cuban relations.
First, the 65th anniversary of the manned space flight of Gagarin, the society’s first president, and his first visit to Cuba on July 26, 1961, will be commemorated.
The foundations of Russian-Cuban friendship were then laid, he stated, adding that a major cultural and historical festival will be held to celebrate this event, including photo exhibitions, documentary screenings, and other events.
Furthermore, on August 13, 2026, the entire progressive world, including the Russian Federation, will celebrate the centenary of Fidel Castro, Lavrov noted, emphasizing that the Crimean branch of the SRAC is the most active in Russia, and its activities are known even abroad.
It also meant that Crimean youth have a great interest in the culture, history, science, and art of the Island of Freedom.
“It’s very important to us that our young people are so active and want to develop grassroots diplomacy,” he noted.
In this regard, the head of the association on the peninsula, Irina Kiviko, noted that young people from that territory submitted more than 160 entries to the contest organized to commemorate the SRAC’s 60th anniversary.
The students not only wrote creative works about Cuba, but also drew pictures and sang popular Cuban rhythms.
At the conclusion of the meeting in Simferopol, the participants headed to Gagarin Park in the Crimean capital, where they planted a linden tree symbolizing the growth and prosperity of Russian-Cuban friendship.
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