Cuba Charges Former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil with Espionage and Financial Crimes

Cuba's former economy minister Alejandro Gil and other unnamed individuals have been charged with espionage and multiple financial crimes following a nearly two-year investigation, marking one of the most significant political scandals in decades. The charges include espionage, embezzlement, bribery, forgery of public documents, tax evasion, influence peddling, money laundering, and violations related to classified documents, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences though no trial date has been announced. Gil, who served from 2019 until his abrupt dismissal by President Miguel Díaz-Canel in February 2024 amid allegations of "grave errors," has not been seen or heard from publicly since. Gil's tenure was marked by a major 2021 monetary reform intended to stabilize Cuba's economy but which instead led to soaring inflation, currency collapse, and worsening shortages of essential goods. The charges have shocked many as espionage is among the most severe offenses under Cuban law, potentially punishable by up to the death penalty. Cuban authorities have not disclosed details of the alleged espionage or named other suspects involved, emphasizing that the prosecution is carried out on behalf of the state and in accordance with constitutional due process.