On July 29, Venezuela’s electoral council announced that Nicolás Maduro had been re-elected president. Thousands of people across the country took to the streets in largely peaceful protests to demand a fair counting of the votes.
Since then, authorities have committed widespread human rights violations against not only protesters, but opposition leaders and critics across the country. On September 2, a judge issued an arrest warrant against opposition candidate Edmundo González for “conspiracy,” “incitement to disobedience” and other alleged crimes.
Human Rights Watch has documented how Venezuelan authorities and pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos” have committed widespread abuses, including killings, arbitrary detention and prosecution, and harassment of critics.
We received credible reports of 24 killings in the context of protests from independent local groups in Venezuela. Researchers analyzed and verified videos and photographs of protests found on social media or sent directly to HRW by people close to the victims, and by local organizations and journalists.
Venezuelans voted in the presidential election in large numbers, despite government repression in the lead-up to the election, including arrests of opposition members and arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates. International observers have noted the country’s election process lacked transparency.
Venezuelan authorities stated that they have arrested more than 2,400 people in connection with the protests. Hundreds have been charged with crimes carrying harsh sentences.
HRW has long documented the Venezuelan government’s abuses. We reported on political repression, working together with local groups to cover the massive crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in 2014 and 2017.
Media coverage of our work helped inform the world of Maduro’s steps to undermine judicial independence, as well as the work of independent journalists and activists.
As brutal repression continues in Venezuela, governments should push for independent verification of the country’s electoral results and support international efforts to end the government’s assault on rights.
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