”The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls upon participants in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, parliaments of Member States of the United Nations, international parliamentary organizations, and the global community to end economic, commercial and financial blockade of the Republic of Cuba by the United States of America.
Members of the State Duma regard the United States’ political sanctions against the Republic of Cuba as an unacceptable instrument of political pressure. It causes considerable harm to Cubans, worsens the country’s socio-economic situation and destabilizes the socio-political conditions in the entire region.
The economic, commercial and financial blockade of the Republic of Cuba by the United States of America is a systematic violation of the key principles and norms of international law. This policy runs counter to the letter and spirit of the UN Charter. Using such large-scale economic sanctions as political leverage against a sovereign state has no legal ground.
This blockade and its consequences impair basic socio-economic rights of the Cuban people, including the right to development, food, health and access to medicines and medical equipment. These artificial barriers set up against imports of food, medical supplies and medical equipment have dire, often tragic, consequences.
In August 2026, the United States of America extended their embargo against Cuba in effect since the early 1960s. The sanctions were made more severe and impacted the Cuban private sector. The oil and fuel blockade is dealing colossal damage to the Republic of Cuba and has very negatively affected all areas of life, including industry, agriculture, food security, healthcare, education, transport, tourism, and has severed international commercial, economic and humanitarian ties. After the blockade was tightened to include oil supplies, with threats of secondary sanctions being imposed on any oil supplier, Cuba lost practically all import fuel.
With great concern and regret, the State Duma informs that the situation in Cuba as of October 2026 has led to grave economic and humanitarian issues. Food security of the population critically depends on foreign aid and government subsidies that are running out. This is most noticeable in the social and humanitarian areas. The healthcare system is suffering from severe shortage of medicines, disposable materials and power.
Members of the State Duma fully believe that the humanitarian consequences of this blockade are unacceptable and cannot be justified by any political reasons. Imposing and maintaining such policies against a sovereign state goes against the very essence of international law: sovereign equality of nations, non-interference into internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes, observance of human rights, and obligation of nations to engage in mutual cooperation.
The sanctions maintained by the United States of America against Cuba continue to be extraterritorial in nature and act as the main barrier on the path of many nations and international organizations to developing equitable relationships and partnerships with Havana.
This Appeal of the State Duma is made to express our solidarity with demands of the international community for immediate removal of the blockade from the Republic of Cuba and to confirm our willingness to develop comprehensive cooperation and support the Cuban people according to generally accepted principles and norms of international law.“
