Cuba charges former economy minister Gil of espionage, financial crimes

Former Cuban economic minister and others have been charged with espionage and a number of other financial crimes by the country’s top prosecutor.

Alejandro Gil, who served as Cuba’s attorney general from 2019 until his removal in February 2024, was the subject of a nearly two-year criminal investigation that the office of Cuba’s attorney general announced on Friday.

Without specifying which nation or actors might have benefited from their actions, Gil and the others are held accountable for “espionage, acts detrimental to economic activity or contracting, embezzlement, and bribery.”

Other offenses include theft or damage of documents or other items in official custody, as well as tax evasion, influence peddling, money laundering, and money laundering.

The enumerated charges are punishable by Cuba’s penal code, which prohibits 10 years in prison and the death penalty.

In 2021, Gil was at the forefront of significant monetary reform in Cuba, including efforts to unify the country’s dual currency system, raise wages, adjustments to subsidies, and introduce new rules for cooperatives and private employment.

However, the policies caused soaring inflation, a falling national currency, and more trouble for a number of state-owned enterprises in Cuba, which was already severely contracting.

Official statements only stated that Gil, 61, was accused of making “grave errors” when he was removed from office.