The Popular Municipal Tribunal of Habana del Este published a statement on Facebook on Thursday justifying the two-year restriction of liberty imposed on Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente —known as Anna Bensi— and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita, arguing that the video recorded on March 10, 2026, exposed the "home address" of the MININT agent.
The available images of the card contradict that statement: the address does not appear on any of the documents visible in the recording.
The images contradict the official statement
The court's statement asserts that Caridad Silvente "revealed the information contained in the card, such as name and surname, identity number, photo, and home address," a claim that is emphasized in the statement itself.
However, the card visible in the images corresponds to Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, a subofficer of 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 includes the name of Martín Rodríguez Rodríguez, the official who signs the document, the first colonel and second-in-command of the Directorate of Personnel and Staff of MININT.
The court's assertion regarding that fact is not supported by the available images: it is a false statement included in the official announcement with which the court justified the sentence.
The agent who acted on the orders of State Security
The journalist José Raúl Gallego identified the officer on March 11, 2026: «Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, holding the rank of sub-official and badge number 179542, was the police officer who arrived 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 who is sending me to summon for tomorrow at two in the afternoon."
Gallego also pointed out that "the State Security officer was waiting for him hidden, with a motorcycle without a license plate and lacking the courage to show himself."
The citation that Rabaza Ramos delivered had irregularities: it referred to a "Captain Alberto" without a last name, but the signature belonged to "Captain Rafael," and the reason section was left blank.
Additionally, the regulations require that summons be delivered at least 72 hours in advance, a deadline that was also not met.
A trial with restricted access and a questioned judge
The case was initially archived and only reopened in July 2026 following a complaint submitted by the agent himself.
The appointed judge, Zamira Marrero Morgado, had been identified 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 to enter; the other two—“the Herald of Christ” and activist David Espinosa—were detained by the authorities before reaching the court.
Upon her arrival at the court, Anna Bensi was welcomed with applause and stated, "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 in the exercise of their duties, as privacy protects personal life, not the official actions of a state agent.
The 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 United States Embassy in Havana summed up its position on the case with one phrase: "Thinking differently is not a crime."
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