Russia congratulates legendary Fidel Castro with 90th birthday

Today, a former leader of Cuba, the famous revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is celebrating his 90th birthday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations on this occasion.

He noted that the Cuban leader is highly respected in Russia, for being "an outstanding statesman, who dedicated all his life to the service of the Cuban people." "It is hard to overestimate your personal contribution to the development of relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries. I am confident that these relations will continue to be developed, contributing to the strengthening of regional stability and safety. I sincerely wish you good health, longevity, courage and well-being,'' the congratulatory telegram says.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave a special interview for a Russian Channel 1 documentary dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Fidel Castro, noting that the Cuban leader is a role model. 

"He is a patriot of his country, a true son of his people. I think that he is a leader by birth. He defended the right of Cubans to live as they wished. He has defended this right, he is highly respect throughout the world. The Cuban people worship him,’’ Lavrov said.

Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926. He became widely known after July 26, 1953. Together with a group of people who wanted changes, he tried to raise a rebellion against a dictator Fulgencio Batista, attacking the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. The rebellion was suppressed, and its leader after a resonant trial was sentenced by a military court to 15 years in prison. However, in May 1955, under pressure of public opinion the Cuban authorities had to grant him amnesty. After he was released, Castro moved to Mexico.

In December 1956 he, together with a group of comprades reached Cuba on the ‘Granma’ yacht and launched a guerrilla war against the Batista regime that ended in a victory of the Revolution on January 1st, 1959.

After that Castro was appointed the Prime Minister and proclaimed policy of socialist transformation, the course that the republic been following up to this day. In 1976, he became the chairman of the State Council of the Cuban National Assembly, thus becoming the head of state and government.

On August 1, 2006, Fidel Castro temporarily ceded the power to his brother Raul and resigned on February 19, 2008.

Celebrations in honor of the legendary Comandante are taking place across the country. Cubans are celebrating a birthday of their longtime leader by mass events and concerts.