The trial of Alejandro Gil Fernández, the former Cuban Minister of Economy and Planning, commenced on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in a military court located in Marianao. The proceedings are enveloped in secrecy, with a robust security presence.
According to independent outlet CubaNet, the trial is taking place at the judicial venue on 100 and 35 in Havana. State Security officers, mostly undercover, have cordoned off streets, blocked access points, and restricted pedestrian movement. Nearby businesses, cafes, and a school have been closed since early morning.
The Cuban regime has defended its decision to conduct the trial behind closed doors, citing "national security reasons," as per an official statement from the People's Supreme Court released on Monday. Only authorized individuals and the parties involved are allowed to attend, excluding independent media and the general public.
Observers near the court report the presence of official vehicles, motorcade escorts, and foreign press teams stationed at a distance, all under constant surveillance. "The area is under total control," a reporter on-site confirmed, emphasizing the militarized nature of the operation.
The Charges Against Alejandro Gil
Gil Fernández faces a myriad of charges, including espionage, embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, money laundering, forgery of public documents, influence peddling, and offenses detrimental to economic activity and contracting, among others.
The Cuban prosecutor's office is seeking a life sentence in the main case, with an additional request of up to 30 years for a secondary case involving over 20 defendants.
Gil Fernández was removed from his positions on February 2, 2024, during one of Cuba's most severe economic crises, characterized by power outages, shortages, and the failure of the "Ordering Task" program, which he had publicly supported. His political downfall has been one of the most dramatic within the regime's leadership in recent decades.
Reactions and Context Surrounding the Trial
The trial of Alejandro Gil Fernández has sparked a wave of reactions both inside and outside Cuba, particularly due to the closed nature of the proceedings, the severity of the charges, and the downfall of a prominent figure in Miguel Díaz-Canel's government.
Family Outcry and Allegations of Manipulation
His daughter, Laura María Gil, denounced the accusations against her father as a "complete manipulation." In an audio message shared on social media, she revealed that the family learned about the trial date from the television when her grandmother saw it on the midday news.
"We had no idea, we knew nothing. We found out because my grandmother saw it on the one o'clock news," she recounted.
Laura María also reported communication restrictions, stating that her WhatsApp account was limited the same day the official announcement was made: "I have poor connection and many messages I can't respond to. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if someone tampered with my account."
Despite the secrecy, she intends to attend the trial with her brother, acknowledging the closed nature of the proceedings. "I'll do my best to get in, even if I'm alone. Nothing will change my belief that he's not a spy," she asserted, maintaining her father's innocence.
Earlier in November, Laura María had publicly called for the trial to be broadcast live on Cuban television, appealing for transparency and the citizens' right to awareness. "No matter what they say, no matter what evidence they show, I don't care... I'm completely convinced it's a total manipulation of everything," she reiterated then.
Voices from Abroad and Internal Criticism
From Spain, María Victoria Gil Fernández, Alejandro's sister, stated that he denies all charges and described the trial as an attempt by the regime to "silence uncomfortable truths" within the state apparatus.
In recent statements, she lamented the family's lack of direct access to the case file or information about the other accused, emphasizing that the trial "should never have been conducted behind closed doors."
One of the most striking reactions came from former Cuban spy René González, a member of the infamous Wasp Network, who called for a "public and transparent" trial for Gil Fernández. In a lengthy message posted on his social media, González defended the principle of presumption of innocence and warned, "we are not in a position to ask people to believe by faith," referring to the absence of public evidence and the secrecy of the process.
González's words, coming from someone with a long history of loyalty to the system, introduce an uncomfortable element for the regime. Although the ex-agent was careful not to cross lines—he reminded, "we should not shoot each other within the same trench"—his call for transparency highlights internal wear and increasing doubts about the credibility of Cuba's judicial apparatus.
The ex-spy's gesture adds to the family's outrage, which demands a public trial and denounces irregularities in the investigation.
The contrast between these positions—the caution of González from within the system and the open denunciation by the family from outside—strengthens the perception of fracture and disintegration at the core of Cuban power.
A Divisive Case Even Among Officials
On social media, some former officials and regime supporters expressed surprise at the speed of the investigation, while others insist that the process is a "demonstration of zero tolerance for corruption."
However, critical voices argue that the espionage accusation—a rarely used charge in Cuba's high bureaucracy—reveals internal fractures in power rather than a true exercise of justice.
The Fall of the Regime’s Economic Face
Trained as an engineer and considered for years the technocratic face of the Castro regime's economic reforms, Alejandro Gil was ousted in February 2024, following the collapse of the "Ordering Task" and the worsening of Cuba's financial and social crisis.
Now, he faces a potential life sentence and has become a symbol of a system that harshly punishes even its own ranks when they become politically inconvenient.
Questions on Alejandro Gil's Trial and Its Implications
What charges is Alejandro Gil Fernández facing?
Alejandro Gil is facing charges of espionage, embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, money laundering, public document forgery, influence peddling, and offenses against economic activity and contracting.
Why is the trial being held in secrecy?
The trial is held in secrecy for "national security reasons," as stated by the Cuban regime. Only authorized individuals and parties involved can attend, while independent media and the general public are barred from access.
How has Alejandro Gil's family reacted to the trial?
His daughter, Laura María Gil, has denounced the charges as a "complete manipulation" and has raised concerns about communication restrictions and the lack of transparency in the trial.