María Victoria Gil Fernández has called for her brother, former Cuban Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, to be acknowledged as a political prisoner following the Cuban Supreme Court's decision to uphold his sentence.
In an interview with CiberCuba, the former lawyer and Cuban television host argued that the legal proceedings against her brother are politically motivated and criticized what she sees as a targeted pursuit by the political system itself.
The Supreme Court recently confirmed the verdict against the ex-official, which includes a life sentence for espionage and 30 years for corruption charges.
According to María Victoria, the family had anticipated a possible review or alteration of the sentence, but it ultimately remained unchanged.
During the interview, she elaborated that the corruption charges against her brother are linked to events from the 1990s when Alejandro served as a manager at the company Caudal.
She claims the case revolves around royalties amounting to approximately 4,000 CUC, which were allegedly handed over to a family cousin to be converted into dollars in small amounts. This transaction, according to her, was leveraged by the prosecution to frame a charge of money laundering.
She contended that these incidents occurred over three decades ago and should, from a legal standpoint, be considered either expired or mere administrative violations.
María Victoria mentioned having access to the prosecutor's report by Robert Campbell, which she claims forms the basis of the corruption allegations against her brother.
She asserted that the document outlines the details concerning those 4,000 CUC royalties received during the nineties.
She also expressed that, in her view, the case exemplifies severe judicial persecution against Alejandro and questioned the rationale of an experienced prosecutor recommending such a harsh sentence for these actions.
In the conversation, she brought up Rubén Remigio Ferro, who was the President of Cuba's Supreme People's Court for years. She claimed that Remigio refused to sign the conviction against Alejandro in the corruption case, a decision that supposedly led to his departure from the role after more than two decades.
María Victoria revealed that this information was provided by sources connected to the judicial system itself.
She further alleged that her brother's fall from grace was due to the sensitive information he had access to during his tenure as Minister of Economy and Planning. She claimed he uncovered irregularities associated with GAESA, a major military-controlled business conglomerate in Cuba.
In this setting, she alleged that the government decided to remove him permanently from power, with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero allegedly tasked with "politically ending" Alejandro Gil.
Despite her criticisms, María Victoria acknowledged that if a political shift occurs in Cuba, her brother should face trial for his involvement with a government that has damaged the country. Nonetheless, she stressed that such proceedings should be conducted with legal safeguards and under an independent judiciary.
"Should there be a political transition in Cuba, my brother must be held accountable for being part of a government that has destroyed the nation, but he deserves a fair trial with full legal guarantees," she stated.
She also reiterated her appeal to the international community to classify her brother's case as politically driven.
"I urge the international community to recognize my brother as a political prisoner," she expressed during the interview.
She argued that if the Cuban government sentenced him to life for espionage, then his situation should be viewed as that of a political prisoner rather than a common criminal.
María Victoria vowed to continue advocating against the judicial process imposed on her brother and to promote an international campaign to have his case re-evaluated and acknowledged as political imprisonment.
Understanding Alejandro Gil's Legal Battle
Why is Alejandro Gil considered a political prisoner by his sister?
María Victoria Gil believes that the charges against Alejandro are politically motivated and not based on criminal activity. She argues that the espionage charge, which led to a life sentence, should classify him as a political prisoner.
What are the main accusations against Alejandro Gil?
Alejandro Gil faces a life sentence for espionage and 30 years for corruption. The corruption charges stem from alleged financial misconduct dating back to the 1990s.
What did María Victoria Gil reveal about the judicial process?
She claims there is significant judicial bias against her brother and that key judicial figures like Rubén Remigio Ferro opposed the conviction, which contributed to his departure from the court.