Russia says the more than 60-year-old United States economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba is a disgrace.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova says the world should continue to actively fight against the blockade against the Caribbean island nation of 11 million people.

Towards the end of October African media executives and journalists were in Moscow for the Russia-Africa Media Forum.

The media forum discussed the influence and reach of media in countries of the global south on world affairs, the development of media in Africa and the role of media platforms in combating disinformation.

Zakharova was one of the top Russian government officials who took part in a session and responded to a question on the UN General Assembly vote in favour of a resolution to lift the US blockade against Cuba.

“It is not something that should even be up for discussion. It is a shameful phenomenon of the modern era. This is not an attempt, for example, to overcome certain disagreements by such a barbaric method. It is not an attempt to pursue some form of financial or economic protectionism. It is not an attempt to protect anyone's sovereignty. It is the use of every available means from brute force and blackmail to various tricks, manoeuvres and lies in order to influence an entire people. We have always voted the same way at the UN General Assembly. I mean Russia, our delegation against the blockade. But this is not only a matter of voting. It is a matter of actively fighting against it.”

Zakharova also pointed out that African countries had stood firm despite intense Western pressure to distance themselves from Moscow.

“We regard African states as independent, equal partners with whom we have long-standing traditions of friendship and co-operation. These relations have a solid foundation, and you know this better than anyone. It was the Soviet Union and Russia is the successor to the Soviet Union that supported African peoples in their struggle for independence and helped develop national economies, industry, energy and education.”

The Russia-Africa Media Forum brought together heads of African news agencies and media corporations across the continent.