On the centennial of Fidel Castro's birth, his grandson, Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, visited the dictator's grave at Santiago de Cuba's Santa Ifigenia Cemetery during the night. He shared a message on X, promising unwavering loyalty to the revolutionary legacy, sparking a wave of criticism from Cubans who juxtaposed this homage with decades of suffering.
"As always, I'm here close to you to offer affection, celebrate your life, and to say: Happy Birthday, Grandpa! Let there be no doubt: Commander in Chief, COMMAND, this centennial generation will not let you die!" wrote Castro Smirnov under the hashtag #100YearsWithFidel, accompanied by a collage of three photos showing him placing flowers at the granite rock inscribed with "FIDEL."
Outrage Among Cubans
The reaction from many Cubans was swift and filled with outrage. In response to the promise of "not letting him die," hundreds pointed out the millions of lives devastated by the regime Castro established. They linked this alleged immortality to prolonged blackouts, shortages of food, water, and medicine, and the poverty plaguing the island in 2026.
"The family are the only ones who can be thankful; the people thank that he's in hell," commented one user.
Another noted, "It's contradictory that the communist model is a failure that destroys an entire country, leaving people without power and starving, so his family inherits a private enterprise that can't even be audited."
"One must be a scoundrel to celebrate a grandfather who was a murderous dictator. Family environment is one thing; public expressions are another. The grandchildren of Hitler, Trujillo, Duvalier, Somoza, Idi Amin, Franco, Pinochet, Ferdinand Marcos, Stalin, Mao, and Stroessner remain silent," emphasized a third.
A fourth user concluded, "There's an entire country sunk in misery while you enjoy luxury. Just leave #Cuba already. The people demand change."
Official Tributes and Criticisms
Thursday marked exactly 100 years since the birth of Fidel Castro, who was born on August 13, 1926, in Birán, Holguín, and died on November 25, 2016, after ruling Cuba for nearly five decades.
The regime declared 2026 as the "Year of the Centennial of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz" and organized events, including an international colloquium with more than 1,500 delegates from 63 countries and a central ceremony in Birán attended by Raúl Castro.
The trend of official tributes becoming targets of criticism is not new. When the Communist Party launched the "Fidel is eternal" campaign, the comment sections were filled with mockery associating this "eternity" with everyday misery. Shortly after, a Cubadebate contest about "Fidel's values" elicited irony and complaints instead of praise.
Grandson's Role and Public Statements
Castro Smirnov is the son of Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart, known as "Fidelito"—Fidel Castro's firstborn with his first wife Mirta Díaz-Balart—who took his own life in February 2018. His mother is Russian citizen Olga Smirnova. A Doctor of Sciences educated in Biology and Nuclear Physics, the grandson has had a busy public international presence in 2026 as a symbolic spokesperson of the revolutionary legacy.
In February, he spoke in London, warning that "the danger has never been closer" and that Cuba "will not kneel."
In April, he participated in a conference in Moscow about "21st Century Socialism." In July, during a talk at the Semana Negra de Gijón, he claimed that "Cuba represents the physics of dignity" and compared Cuban vaccines to "warheads" designed to save lives, statements that also drew ridicule.
The centennial coincides with one of the worst economic crises in Cuba's history, exacerbating the contradiction between lavish official tributes and the reality faced by the Cuban people—a tension that has defined the entire year and was highlighted once again by the grandson's message on Thursday.
Impact of Fidel Castro's Legacy on Cuba
How have Cubans reacted to Fidel Castro's centennial tributes?
Many Cubans have responded with criticism and outrage, pointing to the hardships and suffering experienced under the regime founded by Castro, including economic struggles and shortages.
What actions did Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov take on his grandfather's centennial?
Castro Smirnov visited Fidel Castro's grave and shared a message pledging eternal loyalty to his grandfather's revolutionary legacy, sparking a wave of backlash from the Cuban public.
What criticisms have been leveled at the official tributes to Fidel Castro?
Official tributes have been criticized for their disconnect from the reality of Cuban citizens, who face economic hardship and deprivation, while the government organizes grandiose celebrations.