Trial for Anna Bensi and Her Mother Set for October 1 in Cuba

Cuban content creator Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente has announced that her trial, along with that of her mother, Caridad Silvente, is scheduled for October 1. This comes after the original hearing date in September was postponed.

"The lawyer just called us to say he was contacted by the court, and the trial will be on October 1... for now," Bensi wrote on her X account, indicating the possibility of yet another date change.

Both mother and daughter are charged with "acts against personal and family privacy" following their recording and online publication of a visit from a Ministry of the Interior (MININT) agent who came to their home to deliver a State Security summons.

The trial was initially set for September 17 but was called off just days prior.

"We were informed that my mom and I, the trial is postponed, supposedly due to personal issues of the judge, and as of today, there's still no date," Bensi explained in a video on Sunday, before learning of the new hearing date.

Coincidence with U.S. Protest for Cuban Freedom

The activist also noted the coincidence of the trial date with a protest for Cuba's freedom organized in Washington, D.C., on the same day. "I find it curious that the trial is scheduled on the same day as a march organized in the United States for Cuba's freedom," she wrote on Facebook. Bensi did not provide evidence of any connection between the two events.

The legal proceedings against the duo began in March 2026 when MININT officer Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos visited their home. The encounter was recorded and shared online, an action Bensi defended as a protective measure against authorities.

Since then, both women have been under house arrest and are barred from leaving the country.

Legal Proceedings and Demands

The case was initially closed after their lawyer, Roberto Ortega Ortiz, argued that the alleged offense required a direct complaint from the affected party. In July, the agent filed such a complaint, reigniting the judicial process.

According to Bensi, one of the demands from the agent is for them to record and post an apology video. "What he's asking is for my mom and me to make a public apology video, retracting our actions and uploading it to social media so he can restore his reputation," she recounted.

The plaintiff's lawyer has also demanded two years of restricted freedom for each of the accused.

Despite the legal battle and imposed restrictions, Bensi remains defiant, stating she would repost the video that sparked the case if given the chance. "If I had the opportunity to go back in time, knowing all the repression that would follow, believe me, I would do it again," she asserted.