GENEVA - The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expresses its deep concern over the violence and allegations of human rights violations reported in the country following Sunday's presidential vote.
In the early hours of Monday, the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced the partial result of the presidential elections, declaring President Nicolas Maduro the winner. Since then, thousands of people - including men, women, children, and the elderly - have taken to the streets across the country to protest the results.
The Mission has been receiving credible information about detentions, injuries, and deaths, as well as violence perpetrated by security forces and armed civilian groups supporting the Government (known as "colectivos") during these protests. The recorded incidents occurred in at least 17 of the 23 states of the country and in the capital district.
To date, the Mission has recorded at least six deaths and dozens of injuries among the protesters, with no official data available. The Attorney General reported the death of a member of the armed forces and injuries of 46 military and police personnel.
Additionally, the Mission has learned that security forces and individuals in civilian clothes, identified prima facie as members of "colectivos," fired firearms at the protesters.
"Public order control operations must comply with international human rights standards and norms, according to which the use of force must be proportional and aimed at protecting human life," said Marta Valiñas, Chair of the Mission.
To date, the Attorney General has announced the detention of 749 people in the context of the protests. While some of these individuals have been released, others remain detained, and some face serious charges, such as terrorism.
The Mission expresses concern over the apprehension of Voluntad Popular Coordinator Freddy Superlano and two others accompanying him by armed, hooded individuals on the morning of 30 July. Preliminary information obtained by the Mission indicates that perpetrators may be members of SEBIN. Four other opposition political leaders were detained in the last few hours. Additionally, the Attorney General announced an investigation against the main opposition leader, María Corina Machado, linking her to a cyberattack against the CNE during the election.
"We are concerned about this new wave of persecution against leaders of opposition political parties," said Patricia Tappatá, an expert of the Mission. "We are witnessing the accelerated reactivation of the repressive machinery that was never dismantled and is now being used to undermine the public freedoms of citizens and their right to political participation and free expression of ideas."
The Mission also expresses concern for the situation of seven opposition members who sought refuge at the residence of the Argentine Ambassador, who have been subjected to harassment by civilian groups in the past days.
"The authorities must independently, promptly, impartially, and transparently investigate and sanction all allegations of human rights violations and possible crimes committed by subordinates. Likewise, they must prevent their commission," said Francisco Cox, an expert of the Mission. "All detentions must comply with international standards on due process."
"For its part, the Mission will remain very attentive and will investigate serious human rights violations occurring in the post-election context, in accordance with its mandate," said Valiñas. "This includes analyzing the forces and individuals responsible for such violations."
