Venezuelan authorities and pro-government armed groups have committed widespread abuses against critics and opposition leaders since the July 28, 2024 presidential elections.
A new HRW report documents how Venezuelan authorities and aligned groups, known as colectivos, have killed protesters and bystanders. They have forcibly disappeared opposition party members and their relatives, as well as foreign nationals. Authorities have also arbitrarily detained people, including children, and tortured detainees.
The major offense of those targeted? Seeking democratic change.
Following the election, Venezuelan electoral authorities announced that Nicolás Maduro had been re-elected president. Independent observers raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the results.
During our investigation, HRW analyzed and verified videos and photographs related to incidents of post-election repression as well as death certificates related to those killed in the protests. HRW also analyzed judicial records relating to arrests and criminal proceedings.
The Maduro government has a long history of brutally repressing opposition voices and cracking down on protests calling for government reform, even in the face of prolonged humanitarian crises.
Still in power amid mounting abuses, Maduro’s government has yet to meet real accountability.
Read More
