The ongoing legal proceedings against former Cuban minister Alejandro Gil have taken an unexpected turn, with reports suggesting the government may seize the home where his family currently resides.
In an interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón, Gil's sister, María Victoria Gil, disclosed that the possibility of confiscation has been discussed since the trial commenced on November 26th.
This residence, located in Miramar, was provided to Gil in exchange for the family home he inherited.
"The government facilitated this home swap for my brother," María Victoria explained, challenging the potential confiscation's validity, asserting that the property was not acquired through illicit means.
She further elaborated, "I had donated our inherited family residence to my niece, a house my brother and I inherited from our parents."
María Victoria recounted how she personally advocated for her brother through the Central Committee to secure a suitable home for him, as Gil was hesitant to do so himself.
She mentioned, "The two-story house was originally a dilapidated business rebuilt for residential use. My brother occupies the modest upper floor, but obtaining it required forfeiting the home I gave him."
She insisted, "It’s not a house gained through wrongdoing... They have no right to take it."
However, María Victoria acknowledged the harsh realities of living under a dictatorship, conceding, "In Cuba, they’ll likely take it away because, in dictatorships, rights are nonexistent."
High-Profile Witness: Díaz-Canel's Role
María Victoria also revealed that Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel testified as a prosecution witness during her brother's trial for economic crimes. Díaz-Canel, who once considered Gil a trusted ally and even mentored him academically, has publicly praised him despite his recent fall from grace.
This trial, shrouded in secrecy and conducted behind closed doors, marks the second set of charges against the former minister. The first trial, which was publicized on national television, involved espionage charges that carried a potential life sentence.
In contrast, the current proceedings regarding corruption, money laundering, and influence peddling have been kept from the public eye, much to the family's frustration.
Residing in Spain, María Victoria claimed to have reliable sources within the trial, confirming it lasted four days and is now awaiting a verdict under a veil of "absolute secrecy."
“The Cuban people haven’t been informed through national television... It’s disrespectful to the Cuban public,” she lamented, comparing it to Spain where even high-profile cases are made public.
The revelation of Díaz-Canel’s participation as a prosecution witness has been particularly controversial.
"Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel, the President of Cuba, appeared at my brother's trial as a prosecution witness," she emphasized, highlighting the depth of their past relationship, with Díaz-Canel once serving as Gil's academic advisor.
Despite this history, she described Díaz-Canel's testimony against her brother as a personal and political betrayal.
Family Under Pressure and Seeking Justice
María Victoria also exposed the pressures exerted on the family to remain silent, mentioning that her brother’s children and wife attended the trial only after signing confidentiality agreements and have been urged not to speak to the media.
“My niece pleaded, ‘Aunt, please don’t speak out anymore; it only harms my father,’” she recounted.
Nevertheless, María Victoria chose to speak publicly, arguing that “the Cuban people have the right” to know the details of a high-level corruption case.
She acknowledged her brother’s admission of several economic crimes. “I know my brother committed economic offenses... Power corrupts, and in a corrupt environment, one can be led astray without realizing it,” she stated, noting that no minister emerges "untainted" from what she deems a fundamentally corrupt system.
Furthermore, she argued that Gil is being used as a "scapegoat."
“It’s inconceivable that all this corruption occurred and only Gil is held accountable... Key figures have vanished, leaving only minor players. Alejandro Miguel Gil Fernández is the sole one paying the price,” she criticized.
María Victoria announced plans to pursue the case “to the fullest extent,” including bringing it before the International Court of Justice, aiming for all involved in economic crimes to be held accountable, not just her brother.
She also criticized the abandonment by the elite circle that once surrounded her brother during his time in power.
She questioned, “During these difficult years, who visited my brother in prison or checked on our family?” noting that “those who once honored him and sought favors are now absent.”
As the Cuban regime continues to obscure the trial, updates come solely from independent media and María Victoria herself, who has chosen to defy the imposed silence and expose what she sees as a political maneuver to protect the leadership’s image, with Díaz-Canel at the forefront, at the expense of one of his once-close allies.
Key Questions about Alejandro Gil's Trial and Property Seizure
Why is Alejandro Gil facing the seizure of his family home?
The government may confiscate the home as part of a trial involving economic crimes against him, even though the property was obtained legally through a state-facilitated exchange.
What role did Miguel Díaz-Canel play in Gil's trial?
Díaz-Canel testified as a prosecution witness in the trial, despite his previous close relationship with Gil, marking a significant betrayal in the eyes of Gil's family.
How has the Cuban government handled information about the trial?
The trial has been conducted in secrecy, with no official announcements or media coverage, leading to public frustration and calls for transparency.