The Cuban office of the Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), which supported the cultural events, stated that Havana served as the fair’s leading venue in August, “and subsequently, the living word of literature reached the island’s most remote places.”

The Russian House noted, “Holguin, Bayamo, Camaguey, Guantanamo, Pinar del Rio: Russian was heard in each of these cities, uniting people around a shared language and culture.”

The 34th Havana International Book Fair opened in the Cuban capital on August 10.

A delegation led by Mikhail Shvydkoy, President Putin’s Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation, arrived in Cuba to participate in the fair.

The event became a centerpiece of the celebrations marking the 100th birthday of Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution.

The Russian delegation brought more than 1,500 books to Cuba, including exhibitions, concerts, and a film festival.

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