March 8, 2025
Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel greeting Max Lesnik (R) photo: Prensa Latina
The prominent Cuban journalist Max Lesnik passed away today at the age of 94 in the US city of Miami, where he had lived since 1961.
Director of Radio Miami and founder of the Alianza Martiana, Lesnik always defended the sovereignty and independence of his country and advocated for a rapprochement between Cuba and the United States.
Founder in the 1970s of the magazine Réplica, he suffered threats and assassination attempts. At least 11 bombs were planted at the publication’s headquarters in the 1980s, but they did not slow down his sharp pen and precise words.
Max Lesnik, protesting for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 in front of the Justice Dept. 9/23/06. photo: Bill Hackwell
Max Lesnik was born on September 8, 1930, in San Antonio de las Vueltas, in the current municipality of Camajuaní, Villa Clara, a province located in the central region of Cuba.
During his career, he practiced journalism in opposition to the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship (1952-1959) and after settling in the United States he maintained strong ties with his country of origin.
On the occasion of his 94th birthday, Lesnik told Prensa Latina: “Cuba is in my heart”. He said then that he would continue until his last breath in his fight against the aggressive foreign policy of the White House.
Rather than celebrating a birthday, he emphasized that he preferred to pay “tribute to the homeland suffering from the criminal blockade of the United States.” And so it was, until the very end.
He died on Saturday morning, as his daughter Vivian Lesnik confirmed to Radio Miami Today.
Source: Cubadebate translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English