María Victoria Gil, the sister of former Cuban Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, raised concerns on Thursday about what she perceives as unequal treatment her brother's family has received compared to other regime figures who also faced legal proceedings, fell from grace, and were even executed, yet whose properties in Miramar were never seized.
Her allegations came a day after the regime evicted Alejandro Gil's wife, daughter, and granddaughter from their residence in the upscale Playa district, as part of the ancillary penalties of his life sentence.
In a conversation with journalist Tania Costa, María Victoria Gil recounted that two of her Spanish friends—Jaime Ordovás, an Iberia commander, and Pedro Valero de la Parra, a construction company owner—stayed in Miramar mansions owned by Diocles Torralba and the family of Tony de la Guardia.
She described Torralba's property as "a mansion in Miramar with cottages, a huge pool, and small huts around," which his ex-wife—formerly a co-broadcaster with María Victoria Gil—rented to foreign visitors. The neighboring house, belonging to Tony de la Guardia's family, operated similarly.
"Why weren't Diocles Torralba's and Tony de la Guardia's properties confiscated?" María Victoria Gil questioned, highlighting the inconsistency with her brother's situation.
The interviewee emphasized that Alejandro Gil's Miramar home was "a modest three-bedroom house with no luxury," yet the eviction was carried out "with guards surrounding it, as if he were the world's biggest criminal."
María Victoria believes the scale of the operation lacks legal justification: "This is an act of expiation. Alejandro Gil has uncovered something significant about the rampant corruption in Cuba's power structure, making him extremely dangerous."
She added, "He is meant to be an example, to serve as a cautionary tale."
The comparison with Torralba and De la Guardia carries substantial historical weight. Both were convicted in 1989 during Cause No. 1, the trial that led to the execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa and Tony de la Guardia himself. Diocles Torralba, a former Transport Minister and De la Guardia's father-in-law, received a 20-year sentence but was released after 10, with his properties intact.
In contrast, Alejandro Gil was sentenced on December 8, 2025, to life imprisonment for espionage and an additional 20 years for bribery, influence peddling, tax evasion, and document forgery. The Supreme Court upheld the verdict on January 24, 2026, triggering asset confiscation and subsequent eviction.
Regarding her role as an intermediary in the art market, María Victoria Gil clarified she has never been a trafficker. "I took them (those interested in buying art) to the houses, and through the galleries, we legally exported the artworks from the country. And I'm no saint; I earned a 10% commission and used it to feed my son."
This is not the first time María Victoria Gil has publicly defended her brother since his arrest in March 2024. Last November, she stated that Alejandro Gil "doesn't have the demeanor to be a spy" and that she herself would "be more likely to have that character" than him.
According to his sister, Alejandro Gil remains hopeful from prison that justice will prevail and that he will be able to one day "reveal the whole truth" about what he discovered in the upper echelons of Cuban power.
Understanding the Disparities in Property Confiscation in Cuba
Why were Alejandro Gil's properties confiscated but not those of Diocles Torralba and Tony de la Guardia?
María Victoria Gil argues that her brother's treatment was unfair compared to Torralba and De la Guardia, whose properties were not seized despite their involvement in legal proceedings and historical scandals.
What legal reasons are given for the eviction of Alejandro Gil's family?
The eviction followed the ancillary penalties of Alejandro Gil's life sentence, which included asset confiscation as per the Supreme Court's ruling.
What role did María Victoria Gil play in the art market?
María Victoria Gil served as an intermediary, facilitating art sales and ensuring artworks were legally exported from Cuba, earning a commission for her services.