Journalist Mario Pentón Confronts Cuban Spy Fernando González in Spain

Cuban journalist Mario J. Pentón had an unexpected encounter at Madrid's Barajas Airport with former Cuban regime spy Fernando González Llort, who is currently the president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). González was passing through the Spanish capital when Pentón approached him, capturing the moment in a video he later shared on his social media platforms. In the footage, Pentón directly questions the ex-spy about his presence in Europe while the Cuban people endure severe hardships such as hunger, rolling blackouts, and an alarming economic crisis.

"What are you doing in Spain while the people of Cuba are living in misery and facing blackouts?" Pentón inquired. González, one of the "Five Heroes" celebrated by the regime, declined to answer or make any public statements. Accompanying González was a woman and Cuban diplomat Indira Groero, who attempted to stop the recording by contacting airport police. However, the officers not only allowed Pentón to continue filming but also expressed support for the Cuban people's struggle for freedom.

"You thought by calling the police you would get me in trouble or erase my video. Spain is not Cuba. Quite the opposite, they stood in solidarity with the Cuban people's desire for liberty," Pentón remarked.

González Llort was one of the regime's operatives convicted for espionage in the United States during the 1990s, later returned to Cuba as part of a prisoner exchange orchestrated by the Obama administration. Since then, he has been elevated to various diplomatic and political roles by Cuban authorities, often traveling internationally to represent the government.

The Disparity Between Regime Elite and Cuban Citizens

This incident highlights the stark disparity between the privileges enjoyed by high-ranking regime officials and the dire living conditions faced by the majority of Cuban citizens.

González Llort's Purpose in Spain

In a more detailed YouTube video, Pentón explained that he was on vacation in Spain and was preparing to return to the United States when he recognized the ex-spy at the airport. González appeared to be in Spain for several events organized by the Cuban embassy to commemorate the 65th anniversary of solidarity with Cuba. Among the participants was also the Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Ángel Portal Miranda.

"Amid the crisis and blackouts in Cuba, these officials are traveling the world with Cuban people's money," Pentón concluded. His video denouncing this situation has garnered thousands of supportive responses from Cubans both on the island and abroad.