Cuba has handed former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández a life sentence for espionage, marking one of the most dramatic and high-profile convictions of a Cuban official in decades. The ruling, delivered by the Supreme Popular Tribunal, follows a closed-door trial that has drawn international attention and raised questions about internal political tensions within the Caribbean nation.

Severe Sentences for Espionage and Corruption

According to the court’s statement, Gil received two concurrent sentences:

• Life imprisonment for espionage, and
• Twenty years for corruption-related crimes, including bribery, tax evasion, and falsifying official documents.

These penalties place Gil among the most severely punished Cuban officials in modern history.

The court accused him of engaging in “corrupt and deceitful actions,” stating that he used his political authority to gain personal advantages, collaborated illicitly with foreign companies, and bribed public officials to legalize access to various assets. Officials further alleged that he mishandled classified documents, ultimately making sensitive state information “available to the enemy.”

Once a Trusted Adviser, Now Cuba’s Most High-Profile Defendant

Gil, who served as economy minister from 2018 to 2024, had been considered a close ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel. His abrupt dismissal in February 2024 surprised political observers, especially as he vanished from public view afterward. His reappearance during the trials confirmed rumors that he had been under investigation for months.

Despite the severity of the charges, Cuban authorities have not revealed which foreign entity Gil allegedly spied for or the precise nature of the information involved.

A Rare Political Shake-Up in Cuba

The sentencing represents the most significant fall from power in Cuba since 2009, when then-Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque were removed from their positions amid accusations involving leaked government information. Unlike Gil, however, those officials were not criminally prosecuted.

Gil’s case highlights the Cuban government’s increasing efforts to display zero tolerance for corruption and internal dissent, especially amid heightened political and economic instability.

Economic Turmoil and Gil’s Controversial Legacy

During his time as economy minister, Gil led several major economic reforms, including the 2021 currency unification, a policy meant to simplify the country’s dual-currency system but one that contributed to rising inflation and worsening economic hardship. Cuba has since faced severe shortages of food, fuel, and basic goods, compounding public frustration.

Some analysts believe that the economic fallout of these reforms may have contributed to Gil’s fall from favor, although the government has maintained that espionage and corruption—not economic policy failures—are at the core of his conviction.

Right to Appeal

Despite the extraordinary nature of the case, Cuban law allows Gil 10 days to appeal the decision. Observers expect international human rights groups and foreign governments to closely monitor the appeal proceedings, especially given the opaque nature of the trial.