Anna Bensi Speaks Out Against Coercion Attempts by Cuban Counterintelligence

Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, better known as Anna Bensi, a young Cuban content creator, has come forward with allegations against the Cuban regime's counterintelligence agents. On Monday, she revealed that during a police station interrogation in Alamar, Havana, these agents attempted to recruit her by promising to boost her music career if she ceased her public expressions.

This interrogation stemmed from a deceptive setup: both Anna and her mother, Caridad Silvente, were summoned under the guise of signing a document related to her mother's pending criminal case. Meanwhile, David Espinosa and his wife Laidy García were called to a different police unit, leaving Anna and her mother isolated and without their phones.

After swiftly signing the documents, Anna's mother was escorted outside, leaving Anna alone with an officer named Eddie Cala, who casually remarked, "She'll stay just a moment." Subsequently, three unidentified counterintelligence agents—two women and a man—entered the office. According to Anna, these agents employed a "good cop, bad cop" tactic, with the women trying to gain her trust while the man took a more stern approach.

Pressure and Promises

The agents inquired about Anna's aspirations and future, and upon learning that music was her passion, referencing her recent song "Mi Tierra," they offered to aid her musical journey. "That dream can come true, Sofía. It's in your hands, and we can help you with that," they proposed, contingent upon her abandoning social media activism.

"They wanted me to remain silent, to take a different path," Anna explained, firmly stating her refusal. "I will never work for a dictatorship," she declared.

Psychological Tactics and Family Intimidation

Throughout the interrogation, the agents employed psychological pressure and veiled threats, hinting at potential imprisonment if she continued her online activities and remarking that it would be "a shame" if she spent her youth behind bars. They also attempted to undermine her support system, suggesting that no one abroad could assist her if things escalated.

Anna highlighted that this repression extends beyond her to her family. She recounted that days earlier, her U.S. citizen sister was deceitfully summoned to a police station and interrogated in front of her children, an act Anna deemed as intimidation. Authorities used this encounter to apply indirect pressure on her.

Increased Surveillance and Determination

Anna also reported a recent surge in surveillance and harassment, including being followed in public and constant monitoring of her home. "This isn't just about me anymore; it's about my family," she warned.

Despite the pressure, Anna emphasized that she is not affiliated with any organization or external interests. "I'm just a young Cuban expressing my thoughts. I'm not leading anything or calling for anything," she stated, rejecting the authorities' accusations.

She added that her case remains unresolved, even though the prosecutor's office has shelved her mother's file, keeping the possibility of reactivation open at any time. "It was all a trap to interrogate us and intimidate us," Anna concluded after her release from the station.