Cuba’s top prosecutor has formally charged former economy and planning minister Alejandro Gil — once one of President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s most trusted government figures — with espionage and a broad array of financial and administrative crimes. The announcement follows a nearly two-year investigation that has gripped the island’s political sphere and raised questions about internal accountability within the ruling establishment.
In a statement released Friday, the Office of the Attorney General confirmed that investigators had completed their probe into Gil, who served as economy minister from 2019 until his abrupt dismissal in February 2024. Several additional defendants, whose identities have not been made public, were also implicated.
According to prosecutors, Gil and the unnamed individuals will face charges including “espionage, acts detrimental to economic activity or contracting, embezzlement, bribery,” as well as forgery of public documents, tax evasion, influence peddling, money laundering, mishandling of classified materials, and theft or damage of official documents. Authorities did not specify which foreign entity or actors may have benefited from the alleged espionage.
Under Cuba’s penal code, the listed offences carry potential penalties ranging from 10 years’ imprisonment to capital punishment, underscoring the seriousness with which the government views the case. A trial date has yet to be set.
Gil, 61, had been a central architect of Cuba’s 2021 monetary overhaul, an ambitious but turbulent attempt to unify the country’s dual-currency system. The reform also involved significant wage adjustments, subsidy changes, and new regulations for private-sector activity. While the initiative was presented as a cornerstone of Cuba’s long-term economic restructuring, it coincided with a period of sharp national contraction. Inflation surged, the Cuban peso weakened dramatically, and many state enterprises struggled to remain viable.
Despite his prominence, Gil’s downfall came suddenly. When he was removed from office in early 2024, official statements accused him only of “grave errors,” offering no detail. Since the investigation began, he has not appeared in public or issued any response to the allegations.
As Cuba continues to confront deep economic challenges, the case against one of its most influential recent policymakers marks an extraordinary turn, suggesting both internal tensions and the government’s effort to signal firm action in the face of misconduct at the highest levels.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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