An Advisor From the U.S. State Department Met With the Cuban Government in Havana

EFE (via 14ymedio), Washington/Havana, 2 February 2024 — The special adviser to the U.S. State Department for the International Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Sara Minkara, met this week with the Cuban Government in Havana, during a visit to the Island, the U.S. embassy in Cuba reported on Thursday. Minkara was in Cuba from last … Continue reading “An Advisor From the U.S. State Department Met With the Cuban Government in Havana”

Moscow Is Involved in the Digitization of Fiscal Control for Private Businesses in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 26 August 2023 — In the midst of the process of bancarización* [banking reform] of transactions in Cuba, a group of Russian experts advises the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Ricardo Cabrisas, on issues of “digitalization of fiscal control and electronic banking.” His proposal: the foundation of a Business Development … Continue reading “Moscow Is Involved in the Digitization of Fiscal Control for Private Businesses in Cuba”

Cuban Officials Praise Chinese and Vietnamese-style Capitalism

14ymedio, Havana, June 30, 2023 — Members of Cuba’s ruling party offered an unprecedented, sudden and impassioned defense of capitalism on Friday. The statements came as part of an extensive two-person interview published in Cubadebate on the role of micro, small and medium-sized companies companies (MSMEs) in the nation’s economy. Though they acknowledged the misgivings … Continue reading “Cuban Officials Praise Chinese and Vietnamese-style Capitalism”

Economy and Geopolitics in the New Attempt To Relaunch Relations Between Cuba and Russia

EFE (via 14ymedio), Juan Palop, Havana, 12 June 2023 — Cuba and Russia have announced plans to strengthen their economic and trade relations, but experts doubt that they can achieve a new bilateral golden age, and they glimpse geopolitical interests in difficult times for both countries. This week the Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, is … Continue reading “Economy and Geopolitics in the New Attempt To Relaunch Relations Between Cuba and Russia”

Three Dissidents Who Called for a Press Conference Are Arrested in Cuba

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 5 June 2023 — Three Cuban dissidents were arrested this Monday after convening a press conference in which they intended to present a global strategy against political, gender, racial, institutionalized and economic violence in the country. The opponent Manuel Cuesta Morúa explained to EFE that he was temporarily arrested on his … Continue reading “Three Dissidents Who Called for a Press Conference Are Arrested in Cuba”

This Year, the Russian Builder UAZ Will Open a Factory To Assemble Vehicles in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 26 May 2023 — The announcement of the opening in Cuba of an assembly plant of the Uliánovsk Automobile Factory (UAZ) is one of the many symptoms of the good health of relations between Havana and Moscow. The company’s directors said that they will send the first batch of machines to the Island … Continue reading “This Year, the Russian Builder UAZ Will Open a Factory To Assemble Vehicles in Cuba”

Red Carpet in Cuba for the Russians: Land in Usufruct for 30 Years and Tax Exemptions

14ymedio, Madrid, 18 May 2023 — “They are giving us preferential treatment, the road is paved.” The words of Boris Titov, president of the Cuba-Russia Business Council, at the inauguration of the bilateral business economic forum this Wednesday at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, eloquently illustrate the state of the relationship between the two countries. … Continue reading “Red Carpet in Cuba for the Russians: Land in Usufruct for 30 Years and Tax Exemptions”

Responding to Cuban President Diaz-Canel’s Boasting ‘D Frente’ Suggests That One Third of Cubans Do Not Support Him

14ymedio, Madrid, 30 March 2023 — Although the votes on March 26 “reaffirmed revolutionary convictions”, according to a statement by Miguel Díaz-Canel on Wednesday in a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the official had to devote several minutes to defend the legitimacy of the process after 2.5 million Cubans who live on the Island … Continue reading “Responding to Cuban President Diaz-Canel’s Boasting ‘D Frente’ Suggests That One Third of Cubans Do Not Support Him”

Russia Suggests to Cuba More Support for Small Businesses and Less Currency Control

14ymedio, Havana, 31 March 2023 — Putin’s adviser has a plan for Cuba that specifically involves ending the “strict control” over currency exchange. The consequence of this disastrous government policy is “the low profitability of companies, the deficit of commodities” and the black market, according to Boris Titov, president of the Cuba-Russia Business Council, as … Continue reading “Russia Suggests to Cuba More Support for Small Businesses and Less Currency Control”

Cuban Exiles Ask the US to Designate Organizations on the Island as Terrorists

EFE (via 14ymedio) Miami, 21 February 2023 —  The Assembly of Cuban Resistance (ARC), which consists of 35 civil entities on and off the Island, sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this Tuesday, asking that Cuban Government institutions be included on the list of terrorist organizations. The coordinator of the ARC, … Continue reading “Cuban Exiles Ask the US to Designate Organizations on the Island as Terrorists”

Cuban Opposition Platform D Frente Thanks Cardinal Stella for Asking for ‘Clemency’ for Cuba’s Political Prisoners

14ymedio, Havana, 11 February 2023 — The opposition platform D Frente [D Front] thanked Pope Francis this Friday for Vatican Special Envoy Cardinal Beniamino Stella’s asking the Cuban government for “an amnesty or some form of clemency” for Cuba’s political prisoners. Stella, whose visit to the island starting on January 23, followed a strategy of … Continue reading “Cuban Opposition Platform D Frente Thanks Cardinal Stella for Asking for ‘Clemency’ for Cuba’s Political Prisoners”

Signatures of 10,000 Cubans Sought for the Legal Right to “Assemble and Demonstrate”

14ymedio, Havana, 1 February 2023 — Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP) has responded in writing to the request of the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) to include an assembly bill on this year’s legislative agenda that addressed the right to assemble and demonstrate. The response, however, is not encouraging and is … Continue reading “Signatures of 10,000 Cubans Sought for the Legal Right to “Assemble and Demonstrate””

Cubans and Foreigners Linked to the Regime Take Over State Companies Without Competition

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez/Olea Gallardo, Havana, 26 January 2023 — A tetrapak of fried tomato sauce weighing 8 ounces for 630 pesos, some even smaller containers of mayonnaise at 280 pesos, and packet of cookies for 380 pesos, a 3.5 ounce bag of chips for 150 pesos… All imported and at reasonable prices unattainable for … Continue reading “Cubans and Foreigners Linked to the Regime Take Over State Companies Without Competition”

November 15: Chronicle of a War Foretold / Jeovany Jimenez Vega

Translator’s Note: The screenshot above is taken from a social media post in 2021 by the Archipelago Collective. The essay below by Jeovany Jiménez Vega appeared on his blog on November 9, 2021, six days before the originally-scheduled date of a protest planned by the organization.  15 November 2021 Civic March for Change The regime’s response … Continue reading “November 15: Chronicle of a War Foretold / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”

Jose Daniel Ferrer’s Son Arrives in Miami After ‘Pressures’ from Cuban State Security

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami, 22 December 2022 — Daniel Ferrer Cantillo, son of Cuban political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer García, leader of the opposition organization Unión Patriótica de Cuba, arrived in Miami after suffering “various pressures” to try to convince his father to leave the Island, as he told América Tevé. “They wanted me to get … Continue reading “Jose Daniel Ferrer’s Son Arrives in Miami After ‘Pressures’ from Cuban State Security”