Persecution is another crime against humanity

Delsa Solórzano, president of the Encuentro Ciudadano party, highlighted the inclusion of persecution as a crime against humanity in the recent UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission report about Venezuela.

On his X account, he said: “It adds and proves one more crime to the long list that is being investigated in the Venezuela case. In such a way that the analysis of the mission’s report cannot be separated from the investigation that is being carried out in the International Criminal Court.”

Unprecedented repression, before and after the elections

The Venezuelan opposition leader denounced the seriousness of the human rights situation in Venezuela, which is facing unprecedented repression, especially in the pre- and post-electoral context.

The Fact-Finding Mission noted that the current crisis began with the political disqualification of María Corina Machado, which made it difficult for her to register as a presidential candidate and prevented democratic forces from electing her.

“This happened in a framework of arbitrary arrests and persecution,” said Solorzano.

Furthermore, after the National Electoral Council announced without evidence that Nicolás Maduro supposedly won the elections on July 28, international organizations such as the Carter Center and the UN Panel of Experts questioned the results.

“No evidence or minutes were presented demanded by the international community,” he added.

Solórzano also stressed that the repression has intensified with an increase in arbitrary arrests, many of them preceded by forced disappearances. “The detainees have been subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman treatment, rape and appalling conditions of detention,” he stated.

The report also warned of new restrictions on freedom of expression, the work of NGOs and human rights defenders, as well as an increase in the persecution of press workers. In addition, reiterated the commission of crimes against humanity, such as torture and forced disappearance.

The mission concluded: “Taking into consideration both the course of conduct and state policy, as well as the profile of the victims and public statements by senior state representatives, the mission has reasonable grounds to believe that the crime of persecution has been committed in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

Who committed these acts?

Delsa Solórzano said that human rights violations in Venezuela have been ordered by the highest authorities of the State.

Based on the report, He stressed that arbitrary arrests and acts of torture were carried out mainly by security forces such as the Sebin, the Dgcim, the PNB, the DAET and the GNB, the latter under instructions from the Ministry of Defense.

In addition, Solórzano denounced the lack of independence of the judicial system and stated: “The judicial actors operated under the influence of the Executive Branch, which shows clear interference in the administration of justice.”

#Urgent The report issued today by the Independent Fact-Finding Mission of the @Ais of particular importance, as it not only reiterates that crimes against humanity are committed in Venezuela, but also adds a description of acts committed by officials of the…

— Delsa Solorzano (@delsasolorzano) September 17, 2024