The repression in Venezuela unleashed after the presidential elections has escalated alarmingly. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission published a report on October 15 accusing the government of having committed crimes against humanity in the period before, during, and after the ballot held on July 28, which the opposition presumably won. President Nicolás Maduro refuses to recognize defeat and has assured that he will take office again on January 10, 2025.
Over the past three months, the international community has tried to seek a negotiated solution with Maduro and the rest of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela leaders, but so far without success.
The document highlights above all the persecution of opponents and the repression exercised by the security forces against people who took to the streets in protest after the disputed election. The accusations point directly to the National Police and the Bolivarian National Guard, but also to the country’s intelligence services, which are considered responsible for tortures, rapes, murders, and forced disappearances. The UN also warns of a phenomenon it considers new and of particular concern: “The mission obtained information on the detention of 158 children (130 boys and 28 girls) during or after the protests, who were charged with serious offences such as terrorism.”
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