Max Lesnik, Pro-Castro Journalist and Activist, Passes Away in Miami

Cuban journalist Max Lesnik, widely recognized for his endorsement of the Havana regime and his critical stance against the anti-Castro exile community in Miami, has died in the city, as confirmed by Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, former spy of the Wasp Network and now the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR). "Patriot Max Lesnik has just passed away in Miami, a central figure and witness to numerous chapters of our history. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," Hernández Nordelo shared on social media.

Born in 1930 in Camajuaní, Villa Clara, Lesnik's political journey began early with the Orthodox Youth, where he formed friendships with notable figures such as Eduardo Chibás and Fidel Castro. Initially opposing Fulgencio Batista's coup and supporting the revolutionary insurrection, Lesnik found himself in exile in Miami in 1961 due to disagreements with certain aspects of the communist regime established in Cuba.

Over the years, Lesnik emerged as a prominent advocate for normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States, staunchly defending Castro's policies while sharply criticizing the most unyielding sectors of the Cuban exile community. "He was a fighter who ended up siding with Castro's regime. I don't know at what cost, but he became an ally of the Castro brothers," said dissident and former political prisoner Huber Matos in 2007. Matos, who spent 22 years imprisoned for alleged treason before seeking refuge in the United States, asserted that he and many other Cuban exiles had "zero tolerance" for Lesnik.

In 1968, Lesnik founded the magazine "Réplica" in Miami, known for its pro-Cuban government stance, which attracted hostility from significant segments of the exile community. His office was repeatedly attacked and vandalized, and Lesnik himself targeted in assassination attempts, highlighting the divisiveness his political views incited.

Throughout his life, Lesnik maintained a close relationship with the Cuban government, frequently traveling to the island and engaging in meetings with high-ranking regime officials. In Miami, he led the Alianza Martiana, an organization actively advocating for lifting the U.S. embargo and defending Cuban policies.

Controversy and Opposition

Lesnik's pro-regime activism in a city defined by anti-Castro exile earned him numerous adversaries. In May 2023, Cuban exiles in Miami protested against him, condemning his ties to the regime and his role in promoting narratives supportive of the dictatorship. In 2020, the headquarters of Alianza Martiana, which he presided over, was targeted and vandalized by groups opposing his views.

On several occasions, petitions were directed at Miami authorities to prevent Lesnik and his group from organizing caravans and demonstrations, accusing them of provoking the exiled community with their pro-Castro rhetoric.

Mixed Reactions to His Passing

Lesnik's death has sparked a variety of reactions. While his supporters, both in Cuba and certain Miami circles, mourn him as a "patriot" and advocate for dialogue between Cuba and the U.S., many exiles remember him as a contentious figure whose unyielding support for the regime blinded him to the human rights abuses and crimes committed on the island.

Official media in Cuba have heralded his career as that of "a friend of Cuba" and a fighter for the revolutionary cause, whereas the exile community largely views Lesnik as a propagandist for Castroism on American soil. His passing signifies the end of an era in the political landscape between Cuba and Miami, leaving behind a legacy of confrontation and debate over the nation's history and future.