Díaz-Canel Labels Gutiérrez-Boronat a Terrorist Using Regime's Own List

In the conclusion of the third installment of his radio show "Shared Criteria," broadcast this Wednesday on Radio Rebelde, Miguel Díaz-Canel dedicated an extensive segment to attacking Cuban dissident Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat. He branded him as a "terrorist" and "fraudster" in light of the upcoming UN vote on the U.S. embargo.

The segment was introduced by journalist Bárbara Betancourt, who emphasized the importance of discussing the impending vote at the United Nations. Díaz-Canel then responded by reading almost entirely from prepared notes, despite the regime portraying the show as a spontaneous dialogue with the public.

The most striking aspect of the attack was not its intensity, but the weak basis for the accusations. To claim Gutiérrez-Boronat is a terrorist, Díaz-Canel relied solely on two sources. The first was statements from Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. The second was the national list of individuals linked to terrorism, compiled unilaterally by the Cuban government.

"It is the height of audacity to present Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, whom the Foreign Minister Bruno has identified as a notorious terrorist and fraudster, and who is on the national list of individuals connected to terrorism compiled by the Cuban government," Díaz-Canel stated on the program.

In essence, the only evidence the regime provides is its own word: an accusation supported solely by its foreign minister's claims and a list its ministries drafted without any endorsement from international or U.S. courts.

There is no conviction, open investigation, or criminal proceedings against Gutiérrez-Boronat by U.S. authorities for terrorism. As for allegations of federal fund embezzlement, these were made in January 2025 by former diplomat Armando Valladares, but there is no U.S. judicial resolution backing them. Gutiérrez-Boronat has firmly denied both charges, confirming no federal investigation is underway against him.

During the same segment, Díaz-Canel labeled José Daniel Ferrer and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara as "convicted criminals," overlooking that their sentences were imposed by the Cuban regime in retaliation for their political stances and activism. Both had recently participated in the "Cuba Libre" forum at the UN headquarters in New York, organized by U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz on October 19.

After the forum, Cuban diplomats led by Ernesto Soberón Guzmán staged a repudiation act in the UN corridors, shouting "terrorists" and "liars" at the participants. Bruno Rodríguez also referred to Ferrer as a "convicted felon" and Otero Alcántara as a "circus artist" during a press conference.

Gutiérrez-Boronat responded forcefully on Wednesday: "I am neither a terrorist nor a fraudster. I am not a terrorist because I did not come to power by planting bombs in cinemas, parks, nightclubs, or hijacking civilian planes, as was done on July 26."

The dissident also questioned the regime's credibility: "No one believes them anymore, neither inside Cuba nor outside, not even themselves. That's why Soberón's hands trembled while delivering a poorly read, nervous speech, knowing that what he was reading was a lie."

The backdrop to this propaganda offensive is the annual UN General Assembly vote on the Cuban resolution against the embargo, slated for October 27 and 28. International support for this resolution has steadily declined: from 187 votes in 2024 to 165 in October 2025, and only 136 in the extraordinary session of July 2026, highlighting the regime's desperation in silencing any critical voices at this venue.

"The regime attacks us because we will never negotiate the freedom and democracy of the Cuban people," concluded Gutiérrez-Boronat.