A gathering titled “RAUL – SYMBOL OF FREEDOM” was held in Belgrade, organized on the occasion of the 95th birthday of Comrade Raúl Castro and as an expression of solidarity with the people of Cuba. At the invitation of the Young Communist League of Cuba, and as an expression of support for the Cuban people and its leadership, the League of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia convened this gathering in order to send a message from the capital of Serbia opposing the genocidal blockade and the policy of aggression carried out by the United States of America against Cuba, aimed at the destruction of its socialist system.
The gathering was held in front of the Belgrade Youth Center. On behalf of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, the attendees were addressed by the General Secretary, Comrade Aleksandar Banjanac, while on behalf of the SKOJ, Comrade Miloš Karavezić spoke. The gathering was also addressed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Serbia, Pavel Orencio Díaz Hernández, who thanked those present for their support and emphasized that the Cuban people are ready to defend the Revolution and their independence. Representatives of the Society of Serbian-Cuban Friendship, Movement of Socialist, “Network in Defense of Humanity”, SUBNOR of Laćarak, and SUBNOR of New Belgrade also spoke at the event.
During the gathering, participants chanted slogans: “Cuba sí, bloqueo no”, “Cuba sí, yanquis no”, “¡Viva Cuba!”, “Abajo el imperialismo”, “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!”, and “Cuba is not alone”.
The location of the gathering was not chosen by chance. The space in front of the Youth Center was selected because the building, once intended for youth and today largely commercialized, symbolizes American cultural hegemony in Belgrade and Serbia. It contains the so-called “American Corner”, while one of its halls is named “Americana”, which for many freedom-loving citizens of Serbia represents a symbol of cultural dominance and humiliation.
The administration of the United States, led by Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and J. D. Vance, has for some time been intensifying political, economic, and military pressure on socialist Cuba—a “island of freedom” that for more than six decades has resisted imperialist attacks and blockade. In recent months, there have been increasingly open calls for intervention against Cuba, as well as threats directed against the Cuban leadership, including Comrade Raúl Castro.
Cuba has been facing an economic blockade imposed by the United States for more than six decades, which the vast majority of countries in the world consider unjust and contrary to international law. The aim of this policy is to suffocate the Cuban economy, prevent the country’s development, and attempt to force the Cuban people to abandon their sovereign path of development and socialist social system. Additional sanctions, restrictions on energy supplies, and continuous threats further increase the danger of a new imperialist aggression against a sovereign and socialist state.
Despite all pressures, the Cuban people remain determined to defend their revolution, independence, dignity, and the right to independently decide on their social and political system. Cuba remains a symbol of international solidarity, humanity, and consistent resistance to imperialism.
Raúl is a symbol of freedom.
Hands off Cuba!
Cuba is not alone!
Secretariat of the NKPJ
Secretariat of the SKOJ
Belgrade
03.06.2026.
