Cuban Content Creator Sentenced to 2 Years of ‘Restricted Freedom’ for Filming Agent
The women received non-custodial sentences after the court said the video exposed the officer’s personal data and included offensive language.
- On Thursday, October 1, the Havana East Municipal People's Court found Anna Bensi and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita, guilty of offenses against personal privacy and image.
- The case stems from a March video Bensi posted, filmed by Silvente, showing a police officer delivering a summons. The court noted the footage contained "offensive, degrading and threatening words against the officer and his relatives."
- Judge Zamira Marrero Morgado sentenced both women to two years of "limitation of liberty," a non-custodial penalty. Lawyer Roberto Ortega said this requires them to obey the law and forbids leaving their province without permission.
- Ortega said the written ruling is due in about 15 days, after which the women have 10 working days to appeal to the Havana Provincial People's Court. Bensi told reporters, "This really is an injustice."
- The US Embassy in Havana stated, "Thinking differently is not a crime," while legal-aid group Cubalex argued that filming officials on public duty is legitimate. The case follows Bensi's critical online posts about Cuba's economic crisis.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Cuban content creator sentenced to 2 years of ‘restricted freedom’ for filming agent
Miami, October 3, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Havana court’s Thursday sentencing of influencer and content creator Anna Sofía Benítez, 21, and her mother, Caridad Silvente, to two years of “restricted freedom” after they were found guilty of supposedly violating a Ministry of the Interior (MININT) agent’s privacy. Outlets reported that the agent was upset...
The content creator and Baptist activist Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, 21, and her mother, Caridad Silvente, were tried in the municipal court of Eastern Havana, while dozens of people, many linked to religious organizations, were waiting outside the room under a strong security operation. After a trial of about three hours, both were sentenced to two years of "limitation of liberty," a sanction that does not involve imprisonment, but restriction…
They could face a penalty of two years of limitation of freedom, something that the content creator considers "an injustice"
'It Is Not a Weapon, It Is a Phone': Influencer Anna Bensi and her Mother Lose Their Freedom After Recording Official in Cuba
Cuban influencer Anna Bensi and her mother were found guilty and handed two years of restricted freedom Thursday in a case that began with a cellphone video and has since drawn support from Cuban stars, religious leaders, U.S. lawmakers and Washington's diplomatic mission in Havana.
A woman opposed to the Cuban regime and her mother were found guilty of "acts against personal privacy" , for having broadcast video of a security agent.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
