Moscow - The Cuban national hero Gerardo Hernandez, today urged a redoubling of solidarity in Russia for the definitive cessation of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba and the return of the territory in Guantanamo.

After thanking the Russians for their solidarity and support for the release of the five Cubans, who were held in U.S. prisons for fighting against terrorism for more than 15 years, Hernandez stated that Cuba now needed solidarity in order to "celebrate together the lifting of the blockade and the return of the territory illegally occupied by the U.S. at Guantanamo naval base."

Hernandez also insisted, as did Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labañino, that illegal U.S. broadcasts and subversive plans against their country, which have persisted since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, should end.

"Only then, we can speak of a normalization of relations with the United States," he added.

The Hero of the Republic of Cuba and his four comrades were detained in 1998 and sentenced to unjust and heavy sentences for trying to prevent terrorist actions against their homeland from U.S. territory.

Gerardo Hernandez expressed to representatives from Russian solidarity organizations that he and his brothers in arms would remember, for all their lives, their visit to Russia - which was the first for all Cuban Five together - and their participation in the parade for the 71st anniversary of the Victory over Fascism.