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A former top Cuban official has been charged with espionage and a wide range of financial crimes.

Getting into it: In an announcement, Cuba’s Attorney General revealed that Alejandro Gil Fernández (the island’s former Minister of Economy and Planning and a former deputy prime minister) is at the center of a corruption and national security case. Gil, who served from 2019 until his dismissal in February 2024, was once considered a close ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel and a key figure behind several of Cuba’s most ambitious (and controversial) economic reforms.

The investigation into his conduct began nearly two years ago, shortly after his removal from office following the government’s announcement of drastic fuel price hikes that triggered widespread public backlash. At the time, authorities cited only “grave errors” in his management, but it was later confirmed that Gil was under criminal investigation.

According to the Attorney General’s statement, Gil is being held responsible for espionage, embezzlement, bribery, influence peddling, money laundering, forgery of public documents, tax evasion, and violations involving the mishandling of classified materials. He is also accused of stealing and destroying documents under official custody. The Attorney General’s Office has not disclosed which foreign entity may have benefitted from the alleged espionage, nor have they specified what sensitive information may have been compromised. As of now, no direct evidence has been made public.

The case has also named unnamed co-defendants, though officials have not identified how many individuals are involved or their roles. More to come when additional information is available.