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Cuba’s Top Court Opens Closed-Door Trial of Ex-Economy Chief Alejandro Gil on Espionage, Corruption Charges

The case targets a former architect of Cuba’s recent economic overhaul, signaling a rare prosecution at the highest levels.

Overview

  • The Tribunal Supremo Popular began oral proceedings under its State Security chamber, restricting attendance to parties authorized by the court for national security reasons.
  • Prosecutors charged Gil with 11 crimes, including espionage, embezzlement, bribery, falsification, tax evasion, money laundering, influence peddling, and violations related to classified documents and official custody.
  • Gil was dismissed in February 2024 and has remained in provisional detention since, after President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged an investigation and said Gil had recognized serious imputations.
  • As economy minister and vice premier from 2018 to 2024, Gil led the 2021 monetary unification, fuel price hikes, and the opening to micro, small and medium enterprises, and he was seen as close to Díaz-Canel.
  • Journalistic accounts describe this as the most significant fall of a Cuban official in at least 15 years, with the court stating that defense counsel had access to the case file and submitted their conclusions.