THE winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Physics, Zhores Alferov, affirmed on Wednesday, May 3 that the battle to free the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States for combating terrorism is a difficult one, but will triumph because it is just.

During a get-together with students at the University of Havana, the Russian scientist spoke out in favor of the release of Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, René González, Ramón Labañino y Gerardo Hernández.

The Five were arrested and have been imprisoned for almost eight years for defending their country from acts of terrorism by counterrevolutionary groups based in Miami.

Alferov expressed interest in the details of the case, including the arbitrary treatment and physical and psychological pressures to which these Cuban fighters are being subjected, including restrictions on visits by their families.

The eminent scientist said he opposed the imprisonment of any innocent person, which is why he signed the open letter to the U.S. Attorney General calling on him to comply with a ruling by the Atlanta Court of Appeals that overturned the convictions of the Five and ordered a new trial.

He expressed hope that the case will be resolved in spite of its complexity and Washington’s hostility toward Cuba.

Irma González, daughter of René, and Laura Fernández, niece of Fernando, students of psychology and law, respectively, explained aspects of the legal process, which is being considered by the full 11th Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Student leaders at the University of Havana who were at the exchange affirmed that to fight for the Five is to defend the values that Cuban youth are taught.

Now 76, Alferov won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2000 because of his revolutionary contribution to the development of high-speed semi-conductors during the 1960s and 70s.

This scientist is a member of the Russian Parliament’s Committee on Science and Education and director of the Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Science.