Cuba is facing one of the most surprising and serious corruption cases seen in decades. The country’s top prosecutor has accused former economy minister Alejandro Gil of several crimes, including espionage, bribery and misuse of public funds. This case has drawn major attention because it is rare for Cuba to make such high-level accusations public.
Alejandro Gil was removed from his position in February 2024 by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Since then, he has not been seen or heard from publicly. His sudden absence raised many questions among people in Cuba. When the new charges were announced, it caused even more shock because espionage is considered one of the most serious offences under Cuban law. The Attorney General’s office said the accusations are the result of a nearly two-year investigation.
Serious Charges Announced by the Prosecutor
The Attorney General’s office shared a detailed statement listing the crimes Alejandro Gil and unidentified individuals are accused of. The statement did not mention how many others are involved, nor did it provide their names. No trial date or further details of the investigation were shared.
According to the statement, responsibility is being sought for crimes such as espionage, acts harmful to economic activity or state contracts, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, falsification of public documents, tax evasion, influence peddling, money laundering, and violations of rules related to handling secret or classified documents. It also mentioned theft and damage of official documents or objects kept in government custody.
Espionage is one of the most severe crimes under Cuba’s penal code. It can lead to jail terms of up to 10 years or more, and in the harshest cases, the punishment can be the death penalty. The prosecutor did not offer details of the alleged espionage, including what information may have been shared or with whom.
Alejandro Gil’s Time in Office and Controversial Policies
Alejandro Gil was once considered a close ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel and was seen as a key figure in the country’s economic planning. He led a major monetary reform in 2021 that changed how Cuba’s financial system worked. Instead of improving the situation, the reform was widely viewed as damaging to the economy. Prices rose sharply, and many businesses and families struggled to cope with the changes.
Before he was dismissed from his position, Gil also pushed for raising prices of several government-subsidised services, including fuel and electricity. This created frustration and anger among the public, especially when the country was already facing economic challenges. At the time of his removal in 2024, official statements only mentioned that Gil had committed “grave errors.” No further details were provided then.
Since leaving office, Gil has not commented publicly on any of the issues connected to his dismissal or the new charges. His silence has increased people’s curiosity as they wait for more details about the case.
Lack of clarity on further steps
There has been no information shared on Alejandro Gil’s current location or whether he is being held in custody. The authorities have not commented on whether more names will be revealed as part of the investigation. No date has been given for a hearing or trial, and it remains unclear how long the legal process will take.
For now, the only information available to the public is the list of charges and the confirmation that the investigation has been ongoing for nearly two years. The case continues to be widely discussed across Cuba as people wait for further updates from the Attorney General’s office.