The Governments of Cuba and Russia They signed a penitentiary cooperation work program in Havana for the period 2026-2028.
The signing took place at a time when Moscow has reiterated its support for the Cuban Government after the recent events in Venezuela, and has considered that this will not happen on the island despite growing pressures and measures from Washington.
The penitentiary cooperation program signed establishes “joint actions for the exchange of experiences in correctional management and the strengthening of institutional links between both countries,” the newspaper reported about it Granma.
The media stated that the agreement “is part of the framework of the cooperative relations between Cuba and Russia in strategic sectors, including security and technical assistance,” although without going into details about what the agreed bilateral actions consist of.
The agreement was signed by the deputy director of the Federal Penitentiary and Correctional Service (SFPC) of Russia, Andrei Kochukov, and representatives of the directorate of penitentiary establishments of the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba.
Previously, both parties held conversations in which “the prospects for bilateral collaboration in the penitentiary field were analyzed,” according to the official report.
“That won’t work in Cuba”
Kochukov’s visit took place shortly after the visit made last week by the Russian Interior Minister, Vladimir Kolokóltsev, classified by the Cuban Government as being of “enormous significance.”
During a meeting with Kolokóltsev, President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted the “greater complexity” of the moment that the island is experiencing after the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.
In this context, also marked by Trump’s executive order – which considers Cuba a threat to the US and establishes tariffs for countries that sell oil – Moscow ruled out that what happened in the South American country would be repeated on the island.
“That will not work in Cuba,” said the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasili Nebenzia.
In statements to his country’s television, cited by the agency EFENebenzia asserted that “in Venezuela, without a doubt, a betrayal took place. It is something that is talked about completely openly. Some of the senior officials, in fact, betrayed the president.”
In the diplomat’s opinion, there are no traitors in the island’s Government who collaborate with the United States, so the situation in Caracas will not be repeated. “In Cuba there will not be an ‘easy ride’ if they want to repeat something similar to what happened in Venezuela,” he estimated.
Russia has been a political ally of Cuba since Soviet times and one of the island’s main trading partners. Both parties have highlighted their ties as a “strategic partnership” and have a group of bilateral agreements in different sectors, including the military.
