Following Nicolas Maduro’s controversial re-election in July, a crackdown has resulted in 25 deaths and 2,400 people being jailed.
Venezuela’s government has initiated an extensive wave of repression after the disputed re-election of Nicolas Maduro in the presidential election held in July, according to a report by a United Nations fact-finding mission.
The report, released on Tuesday, highlights the crackdown on the opposition and protesters following Maduro’s victory in the contentious vote. The response from the authorities has plunged the country into one of its most severe human rights crises in recent memory, warned the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR).
During weeks of unrest on the streets of Venezuela, the report stated that 25 protesters lost their lives and over 2,400 individuals were arrested.
“We are witnessing an escalation in the state’s repressive actions in response to perceived dissent, opposition, or critical viewpoints,” mentioned Marta Valinas, who chairs the fact-finding mission.
The report also revealed that 24 out of the 25 deaths were a result of gunshot wounds, mainly targeting the neck. Many of the arrested individuals, including more than 100 children, were accused of terrorism and incitement to hatred.
“These arrests were accompanied by severe due process violations, reaching unprecedented levels within the country,” read the report.
The repressive measures taken during the protests represent a significant deterioration in the rule of law, the report added.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities and the top court declared Maduro as the winner of the July election, although not all voting tallies were presented.
Supporters of opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez promptly accused the ruling party of electoral fraud.
The opposition claimed Gonzalez emerged victorious in their count, leading him to seek political asylum in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In a recent development, the US imposed fresh sanctions on Venezuelan judicial and electoral officials, alleging their involvement in certifying Maduro’s victory.
Meanwhile, Maduro’s government attributed the deaths during the protests to the opposition, labeling the protesters as “extremists” and “fascists”.
Reports of unobserved “forced disappearances” in Venezuela have surged since 2019, alongside accounts of cruel treatment and torture, as indicated by the fact-finding mission.
The OHCHR established a fact-finding mission on Venezuela in 2019, with its mandate extended until September of this year.
However, the government in Caracas has refused to cooperate with the mission.
