Realidad Cubana — Regime Myths Set Against Reality

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Official claim

“Cuba is a medical powerhouse.”

A recurring phrase in state media and official speeches.

The reality

The regime sells its doctors as the best in the world. How, when neither the medical schools nor the hospitals have equipment, let alone sanitary conditions, and the buildings are falling apart?

Purpose of the propaganda

To bring in hard currency by selling doctors' services abroad (confiscating up to 80% of their pay) and to emotionally blackmail the people into believing that health care is a gift from the Revolution.

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Official claim

“The socialist system eradicated extreme poverty and guarantees food through the ration book.”

A recurring phrase in state media and official speeches.

The reality

94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), using the World Bank's international thresholds. The libreta (ration book) has collapsed: 8 out of 10 people go hungry or skip meals (9 out of 10 among the elderly), and only 18% of homes are in good condition.

Purpose of the propaganda

To use rationing as a tool of social control, keeping the population exhausted from searching for food and preventing the organization of political protests.

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Official claim

“The blackouts are a temporary problem caused by the U.S. embargo.”

A recurring phrase in state media; the full version blames the outages entirely on sanctions that prevent the purchase of fuel and parts.

The reality

The power system has gone without maintenance for decades. In September 2026 demand stood at around 3,200 MW and available generation at barely 1,100 MW: shortfalls of more than 2,100 MW, with 106 distributed generation plants shut down. In July 2026 the national grid collapsed three times in eight days, and 95% of Cubans rate the power grid as “bad.”

Purpose of the propaganda

To blame an external enemy for the government's own lack of investment, and to portray protests over the lack of power and water as destabilization promoted from abroad.

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Official claim

“Cuba is the victim of a total ‘genocidal blockade’ imposed by the United States.”

A recurring phrase in state media and official speeches; the full version adds that it prevents Cuba from trading, buying food or medicine, and developing its economy.

The reality

Cuba actively trades with more than 100 countries, and the U.S. is one of its main food suppliers, selling it hundreds of millions of dollars a year in chicken, grains and medicine under legal exceptions in force since 2000. Its economic paralysis is the result of systematic non-payment of its foreign debts and a stifling “internal blockade” that destroys domestic production.

Purpose of the propaganda

To justify the collapse of the communist model by blaming an external enemy, excuse official inefficiency, and hide the “internal blockade” imposed by the military conglomerate GAESA.

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Official claim

“There are no political prisoners or prisoners of conscience in Cuba.”

A recurring phrase in state media and official speeches.

The reality

The regime holds more than 1,200 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, among them peaceful 11J protesters, artists, activists, pastors and minors. In prison they suffer forced malnutrition (250 to 353 kcal a day), beatings, unsanitary conditions and denial of medical care.

Purpose of the propaganda

To criminalize peaceful dissent in order to cut it off from public and international support, and to instill a fear that serves as an example and prevents new social uprisings.

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Official claim

“The Revolution of 1959 was a humanist movement that has never resorted to state crimes.”

Official narrative and speeches by Fidel Castro and his successors.

The reality

From 1959 on, the regime set up an apparatus of systematic repression: executions at La Cabaña without due process, UMAP camps, massacres of civilians (the 13 de Marzo tugboat), political trials (Black Spring, 11J) and deaths in Military Service.

Purpose of the propaganda

To keep impunity for crimes against humanity before international justice, sustain the romantic myth, and erase historical memory to enforce submission.

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Official claim

“Che was a romantic, humanist hero who fought for justice and the dignity of the oppressed.”

Official iconography (the Young Pioneers’ motto “We will be like Che!”, his face on the 3-peso note) and its worldwide spread as a pop icon.

The reality

Guevara ran La Cabaña fortress from January 1959 and had the final word on appeals in summary trials that often lasted minutes. Archivo Cuba documents, by name and date, more than 70 executions at La Cabaña under his command. In 1964, at the UN, he admitted it: “we have executed people; we are executing people and shall continue to execute people as long as it is necessary.”

Purpose of the propaganda

To sell young people and intellectuals worldwide an image of idealistic rebellion that covers up executions without due process, and to present intransigence and hatred of opponents as virtues of the “new man.”

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