Cuba's Supreme People's Court Governing Council issued Opinion No. 475 on May 23, 2025, reaffirming that thefts from energy infrastructure amount to sabotage. Courts have imposed sentences exceeding ten years in prison in 100% of cases tried from January 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. These actions address the theft of components and fuel impacting the National Electrical System.
Amid the economic, financial, and energy blockade imposed by the United States, the Cuban Government is advancing an energy program to ensure electricity generation, a vital service for citizens and the economy.
Individuals have stolen components, equipment, fuel, and dielectric oil from photovoltaic parks, solar panels, and generators, harming the National Electrical System. These acts qualify as sabotage under Article 125 of the Penal Code (Law No. 151 of 2022), carrying 7 to 15 years in prison, escalating to 10-30 years, life imprisonment, or death if they cause serious injuries, deaths, or endanger collective security.
Opinion No. 475 from the Supreme People's Court Governing Council emphasizes protection of critical infrastructure like the power system. Article 80 of the Penal Code lists aggravating factors such as group involvement, use of minors, or profit motives, while Article 89 requires serving at least two-thirds of the sentence before parole eligibility.
State Security Crimes Chambers of Provincial People's Courts have imposed sentences over ten years in 100% of trials from January 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, including accessory penalties like property confiscation and travel bans.
