The Cuban influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, just 21 years old and known as Anna Bensi, made a strong statement on Thursday morning before entering the court where the regime plans to judge her along with her mother.
"It's not fair, it's not fair, none of us are criminals."
The statements were recorded by the activist Alfredito Fominaya in front of the People's Municipal Court of Havana del Este, in Cojímar.
A phone is not a weapon
Anna Bensi was straightforward in explaining why she considers the process she is facing alongside her mother, Caridad Silvente.
"We are simply expressing through a screen, which is not a weapon, it's a phone, what we think," he said.
"We do not agree with the political system of our country, we do not agree with how internal affairs are managed, they are wrong, and that is not a crime.", he added.
When asked about the solution, she replied without hesitation: “Let Cuba be free. In the change. We want change.”
Days earlier, the young woman had already expressed her stance: “I will not be silenced”, and she stated that she would re-record the video that sparked the entire process.
The origin of the case
The process began in March 2026, when Anna Bensi and her mother recorded and published on social media the visit of an officer from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), identified as Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, who arrived dressed in civilian clothes at their home in Alamar carrying a summons from State Security.
The authorities accused them of “acts against personal and family privacy” under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code, which prescribes penalties of two to five years in prison.
Since March 25, mother and daughter have been under house arrest with a prohibition on leaving the country.
The case was initially filed away after defense attorney Roberto Ortega Ortiz pointed out that the legal provision required a direct complaint.
Agent Rabaza Ramos personally submitted the complaint, and the process was reactivated.
A judge with a history in the 11-J
The process is presided over by Judge Zamira Marrero Morgado, highlighted by activists for her connection to the 11-J trials.
Marrero Morgado was part of the tribunal that resolved one of the cases against 129 protesters from July 11, where sentences of up to 30 years for sedition were requested.
The defense unsuccessfully sought for the judge to annul the proceedings.
Repressive operation and closed room
The regime deployed a broad operation on Thursday to prevent activists and journalists from approaching the court.
The Christian activist David Espinosa Martínez, 38 years old, was arrested and allegedly taken to La Lisa to prevent him from attending.
The young members of the Fuera de la Caja collective were besieged in their homes, and journalists such as Yoani Sánchez and Camila Costa are under surveillance. Public access to the room was not permitted.
The activist Carolina Barrero, leader of Ciudadanía y Libertad, summarized the operation with a phrase: "Accompanying is not a crime. Informing isn’t either."
Meanwhile, the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) came out to defend the process on social media under the account "Heroes in Blue in Cuba," arguing that "social media is not a lawless territory," and that "what is being judged is not the act of recording, but the non-consensual dissemination of the image."
In the past few hours, the case has ignited a wave of support that brought together artists, influencers, and religious organizations in support of the mother and daughter.
The Cuban singer La Diosa urged people to flood social media: “You, even if you have three followers, it’s important that you talk about this.”
The Western Baptist Convention of Cuba declared: "We cannot, we do not want to, and we will not leave them alone."
Filed under: