The 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro Ruz’s birth was celebrated in Havana with the Participation of the World Peoples Assembly
The events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro Ruz’s birth were held in Havana on 10-13 of August 2026. They were attended by representatives of the World Peoples Assembly, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, Cuban state, academic and cultural institutions, as well as delegates from dozens of countries.
The first international colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future” was held at the Havana's Conventions Center. It was organized by the Fidel Castro Ruz Center together with Cuban academic and cultural institutions and the World Peoples Assembly. The participants discussed Fidel Castro’s historical legacy, its significance for Cuba, international cooperation, development of the Global South and protection of the sovereignty of peoples.
The Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly, Andrey Belyaninov, sent his greetings to the Director of the Fidel Castro Ruz Centre, René González Barrios, and to the colloquium’s participants. In his address he told that Fidel Castro’s legacy transcends the boundaries of a single country and a single historical era, bringing the global community back to the issues of independence, sovereignty, justice, solidarity, responsibility towards future generations and the right of peoples to preserve their cultural and historical identity.
- The principles of solidarity, social justice and respect for sovereignty and dignity of peoples are in line with the mission of the World Peoples Assembly. The organization promotes public diplomacy, bringing together representatives of different states and cultures for mutual respect, trust, and equitable dialogue, - emphasized Andrey Belyaninov.
The Secretary General assumed that the colloquium will become a significant platform for international dialogue, exchange of ideas, preservation of historical memory and strengthening of cooperation between peoples.
During the ceremonial events at the Fidel Castro Center in Havana Nikita Anisimov, an adviser to the Secretary General of the of the World Peoples Assembly, First Deputy Chairman of the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on Support for Compatriots and Development of Public Diplomacy and Director of the Center for International Humanitarian Research and Promotion of Public Diplomacy “Multipolar World” personally delivered a greeting from the Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly, Andrey Belyaninov, to René González Barrios, Director of the Center and the organizer of the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future”.
On the same days the 34th International Book Fair dedicated to the anniversary of the legendary Comandante took place in the Cuban capital. Russia was its guest of honor. At the invitation of the Cuban Book Institute a delegation of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation headed by Nikita Anisimov arrived in Havana.
As part of the Russian official program Nikita Anisimov spoke about Fidel Castro's contribution to the friendship between the nations of Russia and Cuba. He noted that the ties between the two countries, which were initially formed at international level, eventually covered science, education and culture. The head of the delegation recalled the landmark pages of joint history:
— In 1961 Yuri Gagarin arrived in Cuba and during a tropical downpour he stepped off the plane in a white dress jacket without a coat and shook hands with Fidel Castro, expressing solidarity with the people who were standing knee‑deep in water. In 1963 Fidel Castro spent almost 40 days in the USSR and became the first foreign leader to visit the Soviet Union’s strategic facilities.
Nikita Anisimov also shared his personal recollection of meeting Fidel Castro in Havana in 2005. According to him, the memory of the Comandante continues to live on in the hearts of Russians and his image remains a symbol of solidarity, brotherhood and struggle for a fairer world.
The delegation of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation took part in the Solidarity Forum, organized by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. The forum brought together delegates from 63 countries. It was attended by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Deputy Prime Minister Roberto Morales Ojeda, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Secretary General of the Federation of Cuban Women, Teresa Amarelle Boue.
Noemi Rabasa, First Vice‑President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples, called on the international community to strengthen solidarity with Cuba under tightening of the US blockade. According to her, the consequences of the restrictions are already being felt in the island’s social sphere and healthcare system: the infant mortality rate has risen from 4.0 to 9.9 cases per thousand live births. “Solidarity remains a powerful moral weapon,” emphasized Noemi Rabasa.
Commenting on the forum’s results, Nikita Anisimov expressed support for the Cuban people, emphasizing the relevance of Fidel Castro’s ideas regarding the protection of historical memory, sovereignty and the building of a multipolar world free from colonialism. He noted that during this period a Russian oil tanker arrived to assist Cuba, and a delegation from the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation delivered humanitarian aid, which will be conveyed to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.
A particular event in the program was the meeting of the delegation from the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation with Fidel Castro’s grandson - a Cuban scientist, professor at the University of Havana and a member of the Cuban Academy of Sciences, Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov. It took place as part of the International Forum “Fidel: Legacy and Future.” The central report of the forum was Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov’s speech.
Representatives of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation attended a discussion dedicated to Fidel Castro’s contribution to the development of Cuba’s healthcare system. Nikita Anisimov related: Cuban doctors greeted Fidel Castro’s grandson, Academician Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov, with particular warmth. After the panel ended they spent a long time talking to him, asking questions and taking collective photos.
Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov described to the Russian delegation the difficult socio‑economic situation on the island, which he attributes to the US economic blockade. According to him, the restrictions are causing serious damage to the Cuban healthcare system and patients, many of whom are children.
Nikita Anisimov conveyed an official invitation to Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov to visit Moscow and take part in the Second World Public Assembly “New World: Values That Unite” scheduled for September 2026 in Moscow. The academic in his turn expressed a desire to visit the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation during his future visit and get acquaint with the achievements and practices of Russian colleagues in the field of public diplomacy.
In memory of the meeting the delegation from the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation presented Fidel Antonio Castro‑Smirnov a book “The Alphabet of Victory.”
Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.