UN Denounces Maduro Government for Committing "Crimes Against Humanity"

The government of Nicolás Maduro is committing "crimes against humanity." This is the main conclusion of the United Nations mission in Venezuela, whose report was released this Tuesday. "During the period covered by this report, and especially after the presidential elections on July 28, 2024, the State reactivated and intensified the harshest and most violent mode of its repression machinery," states the document accessed by this newspaper.

According to the mission, led by Portuguese Marta Valiñas, Nicolás Maduro's team is now focused on eliminating all peaceful opposition through a series of actions that are not "isolated or random but part of a continuous and coordinated plan to silence, discourage, and repress" those who may express thoughts not aligned with official rhetoric. "Although this is a continuation of previous patterns, recent repression, due to its intensity and systematic nature, represents a very serious attack on the fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people," Valiñas told the press.

The report, prepared by jurist Valiñas, Chilean lawyer Francisco Cox, and Argentine Patricia Tappatá, focuses on events that occurred in the South American country between September 1, 2023, and August 31. Among the documented cases are 48 detentions between last December and March on charges of conspiracy, as well as arrest warrants against other individuals who are not only activists, journalists, or political opponents but even military personnel.

"The current crisis in Venezuela is the worst in recent history, and a new milestone in the deterioration of the rule of law has been reached after the presidential elections on July 28," denounces the report.

In more than 21 pages of the United Nations text, Valiñas, Cox, and Tappatá document dozens of arrests and repression campaigns against political opponents of the Venezuelan government. "All detentions occur without an arrest warrant; the force making the arrest is not identified; it is not disclosed where detained individuals are taken. According to Venezuelan law, individuals must be presented at a hearing within 48 hours. After July 28, almost all detentions are arbitrary; it is not reported where detainees are taken; individuals cannot appoint a lawyer. The Venezuelan government pushes the limits of what is permitted," details the text.

This mission, which will present its conclusions next Thursday to the United Nations Human Rights Council, adds another twist to international pressure against Nicolás Maduro's government.

The presentation will coincide with the European Parliament vote on the European Union's position regarding the political crisis in Venezuela's presidential elections, where the majority opposition claims victory.