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The daughter of the former Cuban Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil Fernández, broke her silence on social media to request that the trial against her father be held “behind open doors,” amidst the serious accusations of espionage, embezzlement, and other crimes made by the Attorney General's Office.
In her message, Laura María Gil González invoked Articles 54 and 48 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, which recognize the rights to freedom of expression and the defense of honor, to express her "profound dismay" over recent events and to defend her family's right to speak out.
"If I have not spoken out before, he wrote, it has been due to my commitment, along with the rest of the family, to protect the image of our country and to prevent at all costs any popular discontent or international conflict."
The young woman called for greater transparency and noted that the official statement from the Prosecutor's Office left "small loose details that have fueled public speculation." In that regard, she requested that the authorities provide "complete information to the people," especially regarding the espionage charge against the former minister.
"The public would greatly appreciate a more detailed report," he noted, while listing a series of questions regarding the alleged acts of espionage and the countries involved.
In another passage of the statement, Gil González joined "the popular request for an open trial, where everyone who wishes to participate can do so, and it is broadcast live on Cuban television and Cubavisión Internacional, with the involvement of both official and unofficial media." He also asserted that his father "is also demanding this, not just today but from the very first day."
The publication emphasizes that its message is "not offensive or destructive," and warns that "any retaliation" against it or its loved ones would be "a violation of their human rights to freedom of expression and self-defense."
Laura María's statement comes amidst the judicial proceedings opened against the former minister, who is accused of serious offenses such as espionage, embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, influence peddling, forgery of public documents, money laundering, and others.
Laura María, until recently a specialist in the Department of Imports of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (MINCEX), used to share personal and work moments on her social media. However, her message this weekend took an unusual turn towards the public defense of her father, a figure who has fallen from grace after being one of the most visible faces of the Cuban government's economic policy.
Meanwhile, the sister of the former minister, the former television presenter María Victoria Gil confirmed, according to the independent media 14yMedio, from the Canary Islands, that the prosecutor's request against Alejandro Gil is for “life imprisonment”, as stated by a source close to the investigation.
“If Alejandro Gil has been able to betray his principles, I will not hesitate to wish that the full weight of the law falls upon him,” he declared in an interview with the media 14yMedio.
The woman acknowledged feeling "hurt and ashamed" and stated that the crime of espionage, included among the charges brought against her, "is punishable by death." From her residence in Spain, she claimed to be unaware of the situation concerning her sister-in-law and the children of the former minister.
The statement from both women comes amid significant media exposure of the case. This Saturday, leaders of the Communist Party and state agencies promoted the hashtag #CeroImpunidad on social media, with messages supporting the actions of the Prosecutor's Office and emphasizing "zero tolerance" for corruption.
The case of Alejandro Gil, which dates back to his dismissal in February 2024 and subsequent criminal investigation, is now in the judicial phase. The prosecution has charged the former minister with espionage, acts detrimental to economic activity, embezzlement, bribery, forgery of public documents, tax evasion, influence peddling, money laundering, and the removal of official documents, among other offenses.
As the process unfolds without a known timeline, Gil's daughter's request for a public trial and her sister's statements from exile reveal the emotional and political fractures surrounding one of the most controversial cases involving the Cuban elite in recent years.
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