The Popular Municipal Tribunal of Havana del Este published a statement on Facebook on Thursday, justifying the two-year restriction of freedom imposed on Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente —known as Anna Bensi— and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita, claiming that the video recorded on March 10, 2026, revealed the "home address" of the MININT agent.
The available images of the card contradict that statement: the address does not appear in any of the documents visible in the recording.
The images contradict the official statement
The court's statement claims that Caridad Silvente "displayed the information contained in the card, such as name and surname, identity number, photo, and home address," a claim that is highlighted in the statement itself.
However, the card visible in the images belongs to Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, a sub-official of the MININT with file number 2164794, and that document only includes name, file number, category, physical characteristics, and expiration date.
There is no address field.
The card also displays the name of Martín Rodríguez Rodríguez, the officer who signs the document, the first colonel and second in command of the Directorate of Cadres and Personnel of MININT.
The Tribunal's assertion regarding that information is not supported by the available images: it is a false statement included in the official statement with which the Tribunal justified the sentence.
The agent acted under orders from State Security
The journalist José Raúl Gallego identified the officer on March 11, 2026: "Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, with the rank of sub-official and badge number 179542, was the police officer who arrived dressed in civilian clothes, wearing a cap and glasses, at the home of Anna Sofía Benítez, to summon her mother."
The agent himself acknowledged in the video that he was not acting on his own initiative: "I have nothing to do with this, but the Security is the one sending me to summon you for tomorrow at two in the afternoon."
Gallego also noted that "the State Security officer was waiting for him hidden, with a motorcycle without a license plate and lacking the courage to face him."
The citation that Rabaza Ramos delivered had irregularities: it referred to a "Captain Alberto" without a surname, but the signature belonged to a "Captain Rafael," and the reason section was left blank.
Additionally, the regulation requires that summons be delivered at least 72 hours in advance, which was also not complied with.
A trial with restricted access and a questioned judge
The case was initially archived and was only reopened in July 2026 after a complaint was filed by the agent himself.
The appointed judge, Zamira Marrero Morgado, had been pointed out by activists for her involvement in cases related to the trials of July 11, 2021.
Anna Bensi's sister reported that only one defense witness was allowed in; two others —the "Christ Herald" and activist David Espinosa— were held by the authorities before reaching the court.
Upon her arrival at the court, Anna Bensi was greeted with applause and declared, "It's not fair" and "none of us are criminals."
The law used as an instrument of repression
Cubalex had warned that Article 393 of the Penal Code —under which they were convicted— should not be applied to the actions of public officials while performing their duties, as privacy protects personal life, not the official actions of a state agent.
Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos A. Giménez expressed their full support for the accused and demanded their unconditional release.
The U.S. Embassy in Havana summarized its position on the case with a phrase: "Thinking differently is not a crime."
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