Havana, Cuba.- Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero commemorated the self-defense plea “History Will Absolve Me,” delivered by Fidel Castro 73 years ago.

In a post on the social network X, he noted that this document served as the first political program of the Revolution, describing it as deeply rooted in the ideals of Jose Marti and a deep denunciation of the excesses of the tyranny.

Roberto Morales, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), also referred to the date on the same social network.

“On the anniversary of ‘History Will Absolve Me,’ we repeat with Fidel: ‘We are Cubans, and being Cuban implies a duty; failing to fulfill it is a crime and an act of treason (…) the island will sink into the sea before we ever consent to being anyone’s slaves.’ How relevant it remains!” he wrote.

“History Will Absolve Me” is the self-defense plea delivered by Fidel Castro during the trial against him—which began on October 16, 1953—following the attacks on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes barracks in Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo, respectively, on July 26 of that year.

During the trial, Fidel—who held a degree in Civil Law—decided to lead his own defense; the text of his statement was later published as a book.

In the document, Fidel outlines what he identified as the ills of Cuba at the time, summarized into six fundamental issues: the land problem, the problem of industrialization, the housing problem, the problem of unemployment, the problem of education, and the problem of healthcare.