Cuba's Supreme People's Court announced that the trial of former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernandez on espionage charges will take place on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. behind closed doors. The accused's family demands a transparent and public process, a call echoed by many Cubans and even a former official spy. The government cites national security reasons for the secrecy.
The announcement of the trial against Alejandro Gil Fernandez, Cuba's highest-ranking official to face prosecution in decades, came through a brief statement read on the noon news of Canal Caribe. The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, at 9:30 a.m., will be conducted by the Supreme People's Court's Chamber for Crimes Against State Security. According to the statement, the trial will be held behind closed doors for 'reasons of national security,' invoking Articles 153 of the Constitution and 477.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law. Only 'the parties and persons authorized by the court' will have access, confirming the opacity that has surrounded the case since Gil's dismissal in February 2024.
The accused's sister, María Victoria Gil Fernandez, expressed shock at the news, saying: 'It’s outrageous.' She explained that the case involves two separate trials, with Tuesday's focusing on the espionage charge, for which the Prosecutor's Office seeks a 30-year prison sentence. However, the court's statement does not mention 'espionage' nor specify the offense. A source close to the case said relatives do not even know who the 'authorized persons' are or if they are included. Vicky Gil spoke briefly with her niece, Laura María Gil González, who has restricted communications and plans to attend with her brother. 'They have followed the investigation these months and are completely certain that it’s all a manipulation. My brother is not a spy and never will be,' said the sister, who is trained as a lawyer.
Laura María had demanded on social media a transparent and public trial so citizens could directly learn the arguments, evidence, and details of her father's alleged crimes. 'If they’re so sure of their case, why hide it?' she asked. Her appeal resonated in digital spaces, mixing support with criticism and speculation. Even former Cuban spy Rene Gonzalez posted on Facebook, diverging from the official narrative: 'I’m going to swim against the current,' he wrote, reminding that 'Alejandro Gil is not guilty until proven guilty in court. The presumption of innocence is one of the cornerstones of due process.' Gonzalez, who does not know Gil personally, criticized the 'explosive statement from the Prosecutor’s Office, after such a deafening silence' and called for a public trial, referencing precedents like the 1989 Cases 1 and 2 or the trial of Marcos Rodríguez for the Humboldt 7 crime.
The official Supreme Court communiqué emphasized that 'due process' was guaranteed, with access to the case file and responses presented. However, the specific charges and supporting evidence have not been publicly disclosed. Gil is defended by attorney Abel Sola Lopez, experienced in state security trials, such as the 2017 case where he represented Alina López Miyares and Félix Martín Milanés Fajardo, sentenced to 13 and 17 years for espionage in a closed-door proceeding without family access.