María Victoria Gil, sister of former Cuban Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, has shed light on the practical consequences of the recent life sentence handed down to her brother.
In an exclusive interview with CiberCuba, María Victoria, a former television host and attorney now residing in Spain, publicly identified the assets that she claims the Cuban regime intends to seize.
"They are taking the Miramar house, the house of my sister-in-law Conchita, my nephew's old jeep, and they've demanded all bank accounts," she stated.
She elaborated, "I'm not sure if they intend to seize the accounts or merely scrutinize them," suggesting that the full scope of the actions remains unclear.
"We top up my nephews' phones from here. What they have is a payroll account from their jobs," María Victoria stated, expressing a sense of resignation.
While she doesn't dismiss the possibility of other accounts linked to the former official, she clarified, "I can't confirm my brother has another account elsewhere. I can't speak on what I don't know."
Confirmation of a Punitive Policy
María Victoria Gil's statements come just days after Cuba's Supreme People's Court announced a life sentence for Alejandro Gil on charges of espionage, corruption, and bribery.
This is the most severe punishment given to a high-ranking former official in recent decades, raising suspicions both domestically and internationally.
The family has consistently denounced the trial as politically motivated.
The sister of the ex-minister revealed that the original family home had already been transferred to others, leaving the family completely vulnerable after the new confiscation.
"My niece, with her three-year-old daughter, will be left literally on the street," she lamented.
In the same interview, María Victoria expressed fear for her brother's life.
"If he dies in prison from a heart attack or commits suicide, it's their doing. He's a voice they want to silence," she accused, pointing directly at the Cuban government.
Appeal Plans and International Complaint
The family of the ex-minister is actively pursuing an appeal.
According to María Victoria, they are in the process of challenging the sentence and will turn to international bodies if the ruling is not overturned.
The former Cuban television host's son, an attorney based in Europe, will lead the legal team in presenting the case to the International Court.
"This is not the end. We will exhaust all domestic avenues and then proceed to the International Court," she affirmed.
María Victoria also criticized the trial's lack of transparency, particularly concerning the alleged espionage.
Public Opinion: Skepticism and Outrage
The public reaction on social media was swift. CiberCuba's original Facebook post on the topic sparked a wave of comments.
Many users voiced their frustration at the corruption, some vented anger at the former minister and his family, and others questioned María Victoria's stance. Here are some notable opinions:
"We still have to watch as the castles built on our suffering crumble one by one."
"Well, it seems the brother did get his hands dirty."
"They should take much more if he never tired of stealing and causing the Cuban people to suffer."
"Everything has consequences... He lived off the suffering of an entire nation... It's not the time to play the victim."
"God, I want to see Gil's family without a house, car, food, electricity, and water like everyday Cubans."
"With Gil's sister, who needs enemies? She doesn't speak about what she doesn't know, and about what she knows, she talks too much."
"I don't rejoice at anyone's misfortune... But he lived like a king and forgot about the people, now let him face the consequences."
"Let them take everything so he learns to live the suffering of the average Cuban. Now he will experience the suffering of a Cuban prisoner."
"With his sentence, with everything they take, it doesn't repay the harm he did to the Cuban people."
"If you knew everything, why didn't you warn him of the consequences?"
While some wondered if María Victoria's actions were a form of "ratting out" her brother, others saw her intervention as a warning to the international community about the lack of due process in Cuba.
The Backdrop: The Regime's Crisis
The case of Alejandro Gil unfolds against a backdrop of deep institutional and economic strain on the Cuban regime. Following the debacle of the "Tarea Ordenamiento" economic reforms and subsequent economic collapse, the government has sought to project a "zero tolerance" stance against corruption.
However, to many, Gil is merely a scapegoat.
María Victoria bluntly stated, "They talk about capitalism, but how shameless they are when they're the first to break all the rules, to scam, to lie, to deceive."
By publicly revealing the assets in question, the ex-minister's family aims to bolster their narrative of political persecution, while simultaneously opening another front in the official narrative: the Cuban system's response impacts not just the accused but also their closest relatives.
The story is far from over. The appeal is underway. But with each new statement, the divide between the official version and the family's experience grows wider.
Key Questions about Alejandro Gil's Case
What assets are being confiscated from Alejandro Gil's family?
The Cuban regime intends to confiscate the Miramar house, the house of Alejandro Gil's sister-in-law, his nephew's jeep, and all related bank accounts.
Why was Alejandro Gil sentenced to life imprisonment?
Alejandro Gil received a life sentence on charges of espionage, corruption, and bribery, marking the harshest punishment given to a high-ranking former official in Cuba in recent years.
How is the family responding to the sentence?
The family is appealing the sentence and plans to approach international legal bodies if necessary. They argue that the trial lacked transparency and was politically motivated.