Related videos:
Caridad "Cary" Silvente, mother of the Cuban activist Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente —known on social media as Anna Bensi— expressed her unconditional support today at the very moment her daughter was to appear before State Security at the PNR 27 station in Alamar, Havana.
"God is with you, daughter, my unconditional support for you, no one can accuse you of thinking differently. FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS," wrote Cary Silvente in a message on Facebook, which carries particular weight because she herself is the main victim of the legal process that the authorities use as a pretext to harass her 21-year-old daughter.
The summons against Anna Sofía —the first directed specifically at her— was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Edith Cala and summoned the young woman for this Wednesday at 2 PM.
However, the document was not delivered to her directly, but to a cousin who lives on the same floor of the building, whom a uniformed police officer pressured to sign it.
The official reason given is a "statement-taking" related to her mother's case, a claim that Anna Sofía publicly dismissed: "That’s just a silly excuse."
The harassment against the family began on March 10 and 11, when State Security agents interrogated Cary Silvente for approximately two hours at a police station in Alamar.
The pretext was that Cary had recorded and shared on social media a video of MININT sub-official Yoel Leodan Rabaza Ramos while he was delivering a summons at her residence.
The authorities classified this action as a violation of the Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code, which punishes the unauthorized dissemination of images or personal data with penalties of up to three to five years in prison.
After the interrogation, Cary was placed under house arrest, prohibited from leaving the country, and required to hire a lawyer within five days. During the session, she was labeled a "bad mother" and was threatened that the process could take years. On March 18, she attended a second hearing accompanied by her attorney, who submitted a request for dismissal to the prosecutor's office that is still awaiting a response.
Cuban authorities have labeled Anna Sofía as "counter-revolutionary" and "mercenary," accusing her of conspiring under the orders of the United States.
The activist uses TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook to report from within the island about blackouts, shortages, and the repression of the regime. In the face of all the pressures, her response has been resolute: "They will not silence me."
The United States government demanded that the Cuban regime cease its threats against Anna Bensi, and the case is being closely monitored by international organizations and independent journalists. The motion to dismiss filed by Cary Silvente's defense attorney with the prosecutor's office remains unanswered.
Filed under: