Venezuela’s political crisis has deepened following disputed presidential elections and a nationwide blackout, with reports of mass arrests and controversial prisoner transfers. According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (OVP), more than 700 people arrested during post-election protests have been transferred to high-security prisons in Tocuyito and Tocorón. These transfers, occurring between August 25 and August 31, were reportedly conducted with ‘numerous irregularities,’ including failure to notify families and denying detainees access to legal representation.The government claims to have detained approximately 2,400 individuals since July 29, when protests erupted after the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner of the July 28 election. Opposition forces, led by candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, dispute this result, alleging fraud. The protests have resulted in at least 27 deaths and 192 injuries, according to official figures.Of particular concern are reports that minors have been caught up in the arrests. The NGO Foro Penal states that 114 adolescents were detained and accused of terrorism or treason. While 34 have since been released, there are alarming claims that some detainees as young as 13 have been held alongside adult prisoners. Opposition leader María Corina Machado described the government’s actions as ‘brutal’.President Maduro has attributed the nationwide blackout on August 30 to sabotage, comparing it to a similar incident in 2019 and accusing ‘Anonymous, the extreme right, and the CIA’ of orchestrating the attack. However, opposition figures and experts argue that the outage is due to lack of investment and maintenance in the national electrical system.The situation has drawn international attention, with the United States, European Union, and several Latin American countries refusing to recognize Maduro’s victory without seeing detailed voting results. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has warned of increased ‘repression’ and ‘arbitrary use of force’ in Venezuela.
Key points
- Over 700 protesters have been transferred to high-security prisons in Venezuela, with reports of irregularities in the process.
- At least 114 adolescents were detained during protests, with some as young as 13 reportedly held with adult prisoners.
- The opposition, led by Edmundo González Urrutia, disputes Maduro’s election victory, claiming fraud.
- A nationwide blackout on August 30 has exacerbated tensions, with Maduro blaming sabotage and the opposition citing poor infrastructure.
Contradictions👾While the government reports 2,400 arrests, Foro Penal identifies 1,581 as ‘political prisoners’, suggesting a discrepancy in classification or reporting of detainees.
👾Maduro claims the blackout was due to sabotage, while opposition figures attribute it to lack of infrastructure maintenance.
