Russia says it will support Cuba as US tightens the ‘noose’

MOSCOW — Russia said May 21 it would provide active support to Cuba despite U.S. attempts to intimidate and tighten the “sanctions noose” around the communist-ruled island republic.

THE US announces murder charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro on May 20, a major escalation in Washington’s campaign against Cuba, where Castro’s communists have been in charge since his late brother, former leader Fidel Castro, led a revolution in 1959.

“We will continue to provide the most active support to the brotherly Cuban people during this extremely difficult period,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

“We reaffirm our full solidarity with Cuba and strongly condemn any attempt at gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign State, any intimidation and any use of illegal unilateral restrictive measures, any threats and any blackmail.”

Ms Zakharova gave no details of what support Russia would provide, but said the US was showing its “intolerance towards any form of dissent and a cynical incarnation of the revived Monroe Doctrine”. REUTERS