Russian State Duma Speaker to attend Fidel Castro's funeral

The Russian State Duma Speaker will lead the country's delegation at the funeral of late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro, former president of Cuba, died at the age of 90 on November 25. Photo: AP

"By order of the President, State Duma (lower house) Speaker Volodin will lead the Russian delegation at Fidel's funeral," TASS quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on November 28, referring to Vyacheslav Volodin. "Tonight, he will leave for Cuba."

The delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who also serves as Chairman of the Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission, representatives of the Foreign Ministry and members of the National Assembly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Cuba for the funeral because he will be busy preparing for his state-of-the-nation address, Peskov said when asked why the delegation led by the speaker of the lower house of parliament would not be there.

"Vladimir Putin has a rather busy schedule, he is preparing for the federal message, one of the key events in the President's work program, which is determined by law," Peskov explained. He said this was because "the highest level, not the highest level, represents Russia."

Fidel Castro died on November 25 at the age of 90. His body was cremated the following day, according to his wishes. The Cuban government declared nine days of national mourning.

From November 30, Fidel's ashes will be taken from Havana to the eastern city of Santiago in a four-day procession. On the morning of December 4, he will be laid to rest at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago, considered the cradle of the Cuban Revolution. Additionally, on November 28 and December 4, 21-gun salutes will be fired simultaneously in Havana and Santiago.

According to VNE