Cuba's Court Sentences Ex-Economy Minister to Life for Espionage

Cuba's former Economy Minister, Alejandro Gil Fernández, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage, marking a significant case against an ex-official. Gil, who served from 2018 to 2024, was also sentenced to 20 years for crimes including bribery and document falsification. Details of his espionage activities remain undisclosed.

In a landmark ruling, Cuba's Supreme Popular Tribunal sentenced former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández to life imprisonment for espionage on Monday. This case is the most prominent involving an ex-official in Cuba in recent years.

In addition to the life sentence, Gil received a 20-year sentence for other crimes, including bribery, falsification of documents, and tax evasion. Gil served as economy minister from 2018 to 2024 and was a key ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who later cited 'serious mistakes' in Gil's conduct, though without elaborating.

The court did not disclose details about Gil's espionage activities or the entities involved. As a central figure in major monetary reforms in 2021, Gil's downfall echoes that of previous high-profile officials like Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque, who were removed in 2009 for leaking sensitive information.

(With inputs from agencies.)