The People's Municipal Court of East Havana released a statement on Facebook Thursday justifying the two-year restricted freedom sentence given to Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, known as Anna Bensi, and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita. They claimed the video recorded on March 10, 2026, revealed the "home address" of a MININT officer.
However, an examination of the footage reveals that no such address is visible on any documents shown in the recording, contradicting the court's claim.
The Official Statement's Falsehood
The court's statement alleged that Caridad Silvente "revealed the details on the ID card, including name, surname, identity number, photo, and home address," as highlighted in their communication. Yet, the ID card visible in the footage belongs to Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, a sub-officer of MININT with file number 2164794, and it only contains name, file number, category, physical characteristics, and expiration date. There is no field for a home address.
A second ID shown in the images belongs to Martín Rodríguez Rodríguez, a First Colonel and Second Head of the Directorate of Personnel and Staff of MININT, and it also lacks a visible home address. The court's assertion about this information is unsupported by the available images—it's a fabrication included in an official release to rationalize a conviction.
Agent Acting Under State Security Orders
Journalist José Raúl Gallego identified the agent on March 11, 2026: "Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, with the rank of sub-officer and badge number 179542, was the officer who arrived in civilian clothes, wearing a cap and sunglasses at Anna Sofía Benítez's residence to summon her mother." The agent himself admitted in the video that he was acting under orders: "I have nothing to do with this, but State Security is instructing me to summon you for tomorrow at 2 PM."
Gallego further noted that "the State Security officer was waiting in hiding, with an unmarked motorcycle and no courage to show his face." The summons delivered by Rabaza Ramos had discrepancies: it mentioned a "Captain Alberto" without a last name, but the signature was from "Captain Rafael," and the reason space was left blank. Moreover, regulations require summonses to be delivered at least 72 hours in advance, which did not happen.
A Trial with Limited Access and a Controversial Judge
The case was initially shelved and only reopened in July 2026 following a complaint by the agent himself. The appointed judge, Zamira Marrero Morgado, had been criticized by activists for her involvement in cases related to the July 11, 2021, trials. Anna Bensi's sister reported that only one defense witness was allowed inside; two others—the "Christ's Herald" and activist David Espinosa—were detained by authorities before reaching the court.
Before entering, Anna Bensi was greeted with applause and stated, "This isn't fair," and "None of us are criminals."
The Law as a Tool of Repression
The organization Cubalex had warned that Article 393 of the Penal Code—under which they were convicted—should not apply to the actions of public officials performing their duties, as privacy protects private life, not the official conduct of a state agent.
Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos A. Giménez voiced their full support for the accused and demanded their unconditional release. The United States Embassy in Havana summed up the case with a poignant statement: "Thinking differently is not a crime."
Key Questions about the Anna Bensi Case
What did the Havana court claim about Anna Bensi's case?
The Havana court claimed that Anna Bensi and her mother exposed a MININT officer's home address in a recorded video, justifying their sentence.
What discrepancies were found in the summons delivered to Anna Bensi's mother?
The summons mentioned a "Captain Alberto" without a last name, but was signed by "Captain Rafael," and the reason space was left blank. Additionally, it was not delivered 72 hours in advance as required.
How did the U.S. respond to the Anna Bensi case?
The U.S. Embassy in Havana stated, "Thinking differently is not a crime," and Cuban-American congressmen called for the unconditional release of the accused.