Cuban Grandmaster Lázaro Bruzón has taken to Facebook with a powerful statement defending his right to speak freely about the situation in Cuba. In response to those attempting to silence him, he asserts unapologetically, "Why do I talk about Cuba? The short answer is: because I WANT TO."
The chess player from Holguín, who has competed under the United States flag since 2020, has consistently voiced his criticisms against the Cuban dictatorship. This latest post stands as one of his most candid and personal messages to date.
Bruzón outright dismisses the arguments used by regime supporters to quiet him: "Defenders of the dictatorship always try to shame you into silence with tired lines like: 'you're being paid,' 'you didn't speak out in Cuba,' 'you lack moral authority.' It’s the same old script: divert the message. It DOESN'T WORK with me."
He describes the discourse on Cuba as a "two-way street": on one side are those demanding freedom, rights, and dignity; on the other, those who justify censorship, repression, and the lack of liberties.
For Bruzón, his criticisms emerge from a deeply personal place: "My denunciations come from my conscience, my history, and my responsibility as a Cuban. I'm not affiliated with any party or organization. I represent myself and my principles first."
The Grandmaster goes beyond the current situation, stating his stance would remain unchanged even in an ideal scenario: even if political prisoners were freed and the economy improved, he would still assert that "Cuba HAS A SINGLE-PARTY DICTATORSHIP that divides the nation and maintains an apartheid of conscience."
He also urges Cubans to cast off their fear: "Cubans need to shed the fear and shame of being censored for speaking about their country. Who has the authority to tell you what you can talk about? Wasn't it enough to grow up in a system where we were told what to think and say from childhood?"
Bruzón concludes his message with a declaration that encapsulates his entire stance: "Even if I stand alone, I will continue to say the same: what happens in Cuba is UNJUST, and speaking out is MY RIGHT."
This message is part of a series of recent interventions. On October 4, he called those who applaud the imprisonment of young people for uploading videos or singing protest songs "miserable," and days later, he declared in a video that he would not be silenced: "I will not stop talking about Cuba."
Last Sunday, he asserted that Internet access has "eliminated any excuse" to defend the Cuban government, and in September, he reported that his mother was harassed in a store in Las Tunas due to his political views, labeling the province as a "vanguard of informants."
Understanding Lázaro Bruzón's Criticism of the Cuban Regime
Why does Lázaro Bruzón speak about Cuba?
Lázaro Bruzón speaks about Cuba because he feels it is his right and responsibility. He states that his criticisms stem from his conscience, history, and responsibility as a Cuban, and he represents himself and his principles.
What are Bruzón's views on the Cuban regime?
Bruzón is critical of the Cuban regime, which he describes as a single-party dictatorship that divides the nation and maintains an apartheid of conscience. He believes in speaking out against the injustices and lack of freedoms in Cuba.
How does Bruzón respond to those who try to silence him?
Bruzón rejects attempts to silence him with dismissive arguments. He states that detractors often use tactics to divert the message and shame him into silence, which he declares do not work on him.