Massive protests erupt in Cuba over blackouts and food shortages

Anti-government protests have erupted in the Cuban city of Morón over power outages and food shortages. During the demonstration, protesters attacked the Communist Party office and several government institutions.

This is reported by Reuters .

The rally reportedly began late Friday night to protest prolonged power outages and food shortages. Initially peaceful, the demonstration later turned violent.

According to Cuban state media, protesters attacked the headquarters of the municipal committee of the Communist Party.

“What initially began peacefully, after an exchange of views with local authorities, turned into acts of vandalism against the headquarters of the municipal party committee,” the Cuban publication Invasor reported.

According to the newspaper, a small group of people threw stones at the entrance to the building and set fire to furniture from the reception area on the street. There were also reports of attacks on several other government institutions in the area. Among them were a pharmacy and a state market.

Videos have emerged on social media showing the fire and people throwing stones at the building’s windows. The recordings also show chants of “freedom.”

According to Cuban state media, police detained five people. One man fell during the incident and was hospitalized. He was reportedly intoxicated. No other injuries were reported.

Journalists note that public protests are rare in Cuba. The country’s constitution, adopted in 2019, grants citizens the right to demonstrate, but a law regulating this right in detail has not yet been passed.

Meanwhile, over the past week, small groups of residents in various areas of Havana have been protesting against prolonged power outages, including by banging pots.

Additionally, students held a sit-in protest on the steps of the University of Havana after authorities suspended in-person classes, citing fuel shortages and problems with public transportation.

Recall thatthe capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by American forces could cause a domino effect in the Latin American region, in particular Cuba . However, the Kremlin did not expect such a bold US operation, as evidenced by the silence of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

As reported, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized the Cuban government, calling it a “big problem.” At the same time, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared his readiness to send the army to Venezuela against the backdrop of American actions in the region.

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