Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described the leader of the Blanco ladies of ‘Lacaya y Subversiva’ after receiving the Solidaridad Lech Wałęsa Award, awarded by the Government of Poland.
Madrid, Spain.- The awarding of the Solidaridad Lech Wałęsa Award to the Cuban opponent Berta Soler caused a crossing of statements between the Cuban Chancellor, Bruno Rodríguez, and his Polish counterpart, Radosław Sikorski, evidencing a point of friction between Havana and Warsaw.
Rodríguez described the recognition as part of a “corrupt and antiuban agenda” linked to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and described Soler as “Lacaya and subversive.” According to the minister, “Meanwhile, these lackeys continue to enrich themselves with money from the US taxpayer,” alluding to the funds that, they receive opponents on the island.
For his part, Sikorski defended the award stressing that the prize is granted to people who, fighting for solidarity and democracy, change the course of history. ” In The ceremony, held at the Biltmore Hotel in Miamithe Polish Foreign Minister highlighted the “courage, resilience and determination” of Soler in his peaceful activism.
The Solidaridad Lech Wałęsa Award, created in 2014 and promoted by Sikorski, has the support of the former president and Nobel of Polish peace. The recognition consists of a statuette and an endowment of one million Polish Zlotis (about 275,000 dollars). After several years of pause, he was reactivated in 2024.
Prevented from leaving Cuba for the regime’s restrictions, Soler participated in the ceremony in a virtual way and said: “Today I cannot be for the communist tyranny of Cuba, which imposes on me the exit without return, a condition that I do not accept, because I stay in Cuba. I am honored and grateful for this award. White Ladies And we thank you (…) which is the result of 22 years of struggle in Cuba for freedom for political prisoners. ”
The award was received in his name by Irma Santos from Mas Canosa, widow of the leader of Cuban exile Jorge Mas Canosa. American Senator Marco Rubio, also present in the delivery, praised Soler’s firmness: “What has always impressed me with Berta Soler and those who accompany her is that she has refused to leave.”
The white ladies arose after the “black spring” of 2003, when 75 opponents and journalists were imprisoned. Since then, their Sunday marches dressed in white have become a symbol of resistance in Cuba. In 2005, the European Parliament awarded the Sájarov Prize for freedom of conscience.
