Newark, NJ – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement regarding President Putin’s visit to Cuba:
“As Vladamir Putin launches his trip to Latin America at a moment when his international approval rating is plummeting, it’s hardly surprising that he would seek solace in the arms of Cuba’s aging dictators. Global opinion rightfully rejects the Castros’ and Putin’s efforts to strip their citizens of their rights, curb free expression within their borders, and criminalize the existence of opposition political parties in their countries.
“Russia’s continued intervention in Ukraine and Cuba’s unending attempts to undermine political order in Venezuela should be a serious concern for the entire international community. When autocratic leaders go unchecked and spend decades subverting democracy at home, international stability inevitably suffers as a consequence.”
###