The United Nations has accused the Venezuelan government of crimes against humanity

Geneva (EFE) Committed crimes against humanity. Harassment of opponents and repression of post-election protests.

In the 158-page report covering the period from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, the mission accused security forces and pro-government armed civilian groups of killings, forced disappearances, acts of torture, and sexual and gender-appropriate acts .

Security forces, “largely involved”

The document blamed civilian intelligence services (SEBIN) and the military, stating that security forces were “widely involved” in human rights violations such as arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force to suppress protests, or cruel and degrading treatment. DGCIM), as well as the Bolivarian National Guard and the National Police.

He also assured that “the statements of the highest authorities of the state, especially after July 28, incited repression and contributed to creating an atmosphere of hostility and violence.”

Other institutions mentioned in the report

Other institutions highlighted in the report are the National Electoral Council, which “failed to adhere to basic measures of transparency and integrity”, the National Assembly, “contrary to human rights and restrictions on civil and democratic space”. Helpful in the approval of new laws”, or the justice system, which “continued to operate with a lack of independence.”

Although previous reports of the mission, established in 2019, already accused the Venezuelan state of serious human rights violations, the new document highlights that the profile of victims of repression has “significantly increased” in the electoral period , which includes not only the opposition and social leaders. ,

He indicated that in the electoral context, “ordinary citizens also faced ill-treatment for demonstrating their disagreement with the government or with the results of the presidential elections announced by the authorities.”

Repression before and after the elections

The mission, headed by Portuguese jurist Marta Vallinas, reported that at least 48 people had been detained in connection with conspiracies launched by the Maduro government in the 10 months before the elections, many of them in the so-called White Bracelet operation , and 121 other arrests were made for cooperation in opposition activities in the election campaign.

These types of campaigns “serve as justification for the selective repression of the military, politicians and civil society activists”, said the report of the Group of Experts, which Valinas co-authored, composed of Chilean Francisco Cox and Argentinian Patricia Tappata. Is.

Repression escalated after the election results, when, according to reports, authorities “launched an unprecedented campaign of massive and indiscriminate arrests,” resulting in a number of arrests that could be counted in the thousands, “on the scale of mere protests.” ” 2014, 2017 and 2019”.