The People's Municipal Court of East Havana on Thursday sentenced Anna Bensi —whose legal name is Ana Sofía Benítez Silvente— and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita, to two years of limited freedom for recording and posting on social media a video of an agent from the Revolutionary National Police who visited their home in Alamar.
The official court statement states that the events occurred on March 10, 2026, when the officer arrived at the residence of both to deliver a summons. Upon identifying himself and showing his ID, Caridad Silvente began to record him, capturing his first name, last name, identity number, photograph, and home address.
Ana Sofía later posted that video on social media, where it generated thousands of comments, a significant portion of which contained, according to the court, "offensive, derogatory, and threatening words against the officer and his family," which would have caused them psychological distress.
The regime classified the acts as constituting the crime of "acts against personal and family privacy, one’s own image and voice, the identity of others, and their data," as outlined in Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code, and imposed a two-year restriction of liberty on each accused. This non-custodial sentence entails movement restrictions, a prohibition on changing residence without judicial authorization, and the obligation to appear before the court when required.
The official statement claims that "during the oral trial, the guarantees established in criminal procedural law were upheld, and both parties were represented by appointed lawyers, respecting their constitutional rights and due process at all times." However, access to the trial was extremely restricted, with reports indicating that only one witness was allowed to enter.
Before entering the courtroom, Anna Bensi—21 years old—arrived to applause from supporters and was emphatic: "It's not fair," she stated, adding that "none of us are criminals." She also asserted, "We do not agree with the political system of our country" and called for "Cuba to be free."
The process was overseen by Judge Zamira Marrero Morgado, who has been pointed out by activists for her involvement in cases related to the trials of July 11, 2021. The case had initially been closed, but it was reopened in July 2026 after a complaint was filed by the affected officer. Both have been under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country since March 25, 2026.
The organization Cubalex defended the right to record public officials while they are performing their duties and argued that Article 393 should not apply to the actions of State agents, warning that it is being used as a tool to criminalize citizen oversight.
The case attracted international attention. Cuban-American congressmembers Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos A. Giménez expressed their full support for the defendants and demanded their unconditional release. The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a statement on the same day as the trial with the message "Thinking differently is not a crime."
Against the issued ruling, the parties have the right to file an appeal before the corresponding Chamber of the Provincial People's Court of Havana, starting from the moment they receive written notification.
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