The Cuban activist Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, widely known as Anna Bensi, was released Thursday at 8:56 PM after nearly 11 hours of detention at the National Revolutionary Police station in Alamar, East Havana.
The emotional scene was captured on video by David Espinosa, who monitored the situation from outside the station. The 21-year-old emerged in tears, greeted by applause from her supporters.
A Day of Unjust Detention
Bensi entered the station at 10:02 AM alongside evangelical pastor Rolando Pérez Lora, also known as the "Pregonero de Cristo," in response to an official summons for a so-called "official warning."
Despite the summons, signed by First Lieutenant Julio Torres Suárez, containing a date error, she complied and arrived on time.
By 12:44 PM, after over two hours without being called for interrogation, Espinosa reported on Facebook that they were still waiting. "If the authorities summon a citizen at a specific time, the least they can do is respect their time and dignity," he wrote.
The ordeal stretched to nearly 11 hours, far exceeding the two-hour legal limit for police interviews under Cuban law. At 6:10 PM, Espinosa made another public complaint: "No word comes to mind other than 'TORTURE.' The world is watching."
Support and Suppression
Meanwhile, a group of supporters gathered outside the station tried singing hymns but were silenced by PNR agents, who claimed it was a military zone where religious songs were prohibited. The group Fuera de la Caja Cuba remained vigilant, stating online: "8 hours and still waiting. Anna and Rolando are in the same situation. We won't leave without our brothers."
Simultaneously, the siblings Amanda Beatriz Andrés Navarro and Abel Alejandro Andrés Navarro, also part of Fuera de la Caja Cuba, were summoned at the same time to the PNR unit on Aguilera Street, in the 10th of October municipality, amid reports of irregular police summonses.
Background and International Attention
The summons came days after a public social media clash between Bensi and Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, a former intelligence agent and national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, who hinted at legal action against those linking him to the MSME "El Mercadito." Bensi questioned his lifestyle, leading to a police summons just two days later.
The young activist has been under house arrest since March 25, 2026, accused alongside her mother of "acts against personal privacy" for sharing a video of a MININT agent delivering an irregular summons to their home. She faces potential sentences of two to five years in prison.
Bensi's case has garnered international attention: Amnesty International documented it in April 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly expressed support in May, and the U.S. Embassy in Havana stated that Bensi "has only expressed her ideas, her faith, and her aspirations as a Cuban who loves her country."
As Espinosa shared the video of her release, he included a verse from Isaiah 49:25: "Indeed, the captives will be taken from the warrior, and plunder retrieved from the tyrant; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children."
FAQs about Anna Bensi's Detention and Release
Why was Anna Bensi detained by the Cuban authorities?
Anna Bensi was detained after responding to an official summons for an "official warning," following her public criticism of Gerardo Hernández Nordelo on social media.
How long was Anna Bensi held at the police station?
Anna Bensi was held for nearly 11 hours, exceeding the two-hour legal limit for police interviews in Cuba.
What international support has Anna Bensi received?
Anna Bensi's case has been documented by Amnesty International, and she has received public support from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. Embassy in Havana.