The Supreme People's Court announced on Monday that Alejandro Miguel Gil Fernández, the former Minister of Economy and Planning of Cuba, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for charges including espionage, corruption, and bribery, among other offenses.
Official notification of the sentence was given on December 8, 2025, following two criminal trials held in November.
According to the official statement, Gil Fernández was found guilty of espionage, actions detrimental to economic activity or contracting, bribery, misappropriation and damage of official documents, violation of seals, and failure to protect classified documents, many of which were committed continuously.
For these offenses, the court imposed a combined sentence of life imprisonment.
In a separate trial, the former minister was also found guilty of continuous bribery, forgery of public documents, influence peddling, and tax evasion, resulting in an additional 20-year prison sentence.
Both sentences include the confiscation of property, a ban on holding public office, and the removal of citizen rights.
The court justified the sentences based on Articles 147 of the Constitution and 29 and 71 of the Penal Code, citing the "high social harm" of the actions and describing Gil Fernández's behavior as an "ethical, moral, and political degradation."
The official text claims that the ex-minister "deceived the country's leadership and the people," bribed officials for personal gain, and provided classified information to enemy services.
The regime framed the case within the narrative of "betrayal of the homeland," highlighting that the ex-minister's conduct violated the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Cuba is a signatory.
The reference to Article 4 of the Constitution, which considers treason "the most serious of crimes," underscores the political and exemplary nature of the sentence.
Gil Fernández, once a prominent figure in Miguel Díaz-Canel's cabinet, fell from grace in early 2024 when he was dismissed without explanation.
His trial became one of the most publicized in recent memory, reminiscent of the political trials of the Soviet era, where "treason" was used as a pretext to punish the system's collapse.
The court's statement adds that both the accused and the prosecution may file appeals within ten days, and the life sentence itself will be automatically appealed as a "procedural guarantee."
If his guilt is confirmed, the penalties will be consolidated into a single definitive sentence, as stipulated in Article 86 of the current Penal Code.
With this conviction, the regime aims to send a message of "zero tolerance" for corruption, even as the population endures one of the worst economic and social crises in decades, characterized by blackouts, inflation, mass migration, and hunger.
Details Surrounding Alejandro Gil Fernández's Conviction
What were the main charges against Alejandro Gil Fernández?
Alejandro Gil Fernández was primarily charged with espionage, corruption, bribery, and several other offenses related to the misuse of official documents and violation of protection norms for classified information.
How did the court justify the life imprisonment of Gil Fernández?
The court justified the life sentence based on the high social harm caused by Gil Fernández's actions, citing Articles 147 of the Constitution and 29 and 71 of the Penal Code, and described his conduct as a degradation of ethical, moral, and political standards.
What other penalties were imposed on Gil Fernández besides imprisonment?
In addition to imprisonment, Gil Fernández faces confiscation of his property, a ban on holding public office, and the removal of his citizen rights.