The appearance of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, presented this Thursday by the Cuban regime as a "live" dialogue with national and foreign press, has sparked another controversy, following a seemingly minor detail — a watch on the wrist of state journalist Arleen Rodríguez Derivet — which has raised suspicions that the meeting may have been pre-recorded.
The clock of Rodríguez Derivet, who served as the moderator, showed a time close to 5 (in the afternoon of yesterday or another day), which contradicts the official version that the event was broadcast live on the morning of this Thursday.
This detail serves as evidence that the appearance was previously recorded and edited, to then be disseminated with the intention of making the public believe it was happening in real time, which can be described as a staged event.
Foreign media absent
Another major criticism points to the absence of independent international news agencies. Although the authorities announced the participation of foreign press, only correspondents linked to media affiliated with the government, such as RT (Russia) and Xinhua (China), were present in the room.
The agency Prensa Latina was presented as an "international" representative, despite being a Cuban state entity, which raised even more questions among those who expected the participation of EFE, AFP, or AP.
The official version
The official YouTube account of the Presidency of Cuba released a video with the description that President Díaz-Canel was engaging in dialogue with representatives from national and foreign media on topics such as the internal situation of the country, and the impact of recent measures by the U.S. administration, international support, the relationship with Venezuela, and a potential opening for dialogue with Washington.
However, for broad sectors of Cuban society—especially those who follow debates and discussions on alternative media and social networks—the use of a controlled format, with aligned journalists and without the presence of independent press, reinforces the perception that the government prefers manipulated formats over genuinely open and live events.
So far, the Cuban authorities have not publicly clarified whether the appearance was indeed recorded in advance, nor have they responded to the allegations of manipulation. However, the controversy surrounding the clock and the absence of independent foreign press raises doubts about the authenticity of what was presented as a "live" dialogue.
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