Havana: Cuba’s Supreme Popular Tribunal has handed former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil a life sentence for espionage, marking one of the country’s most significant political prosecutions in decades.
The ruling, delivered following a closed-door trial, also includes a concurrent 20-year sentence on corruption charges, ranging from bribery and falsification of documents to tax evasion. Gil, 61, served as Cuba’s economy minister from 2018 until his dismissal in February 2024.
Once considered a trusted ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, he vanished from public view after his removal. His sudden fall echoes past political shake-ups, most notably the 2009 dismissals of former Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque, though neither faced sentencing.
According to the court, Gil committed corrupt and deceitful actions, exploiting his position to secure personal gains. Authorities accused him of receiving illicit payments from foreign companies and bribing officials to legalise asset acquisitions.
The tribunal further stated that the former minister mishandled classified documents, ultimately making sensitive information available to the enemy. However, it did not disclose which foreign entity he was allegedly spying for.
Gil was a prominent figure in Cuba’s 2021 monetary and financial reforms, including efforts to unify the nation’s dual-currency system. The reforms unfolded with a deepening economic crisis and soaring inflation, drawing widespread public scrutiny. The former minister now has 10 days to file an appeal, as the case continues to draw national and international attention for its severity and secrecy.
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