The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) demanded the “immediate freedom” for the teenagers and the rest of “people arbitrarily detained in the escalation of post-electoral repression.” According to figures from the Penal Forum, at least 58 teenagers of the 129 arrested in the context of the protests are still in prison.
The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) condemned on Tuesday 17 the “cruel treatment and torture” against adolescents “arbitrarily” detained in Caracas following protests over the results of the July 28 presidential election.
“The relatives of these young people have reported that they have been tortured with electricity, asphyxiation mechanisms and beatings so that they would record videos admitting crimes they did not commit,” said Neirlay Andrade, a member of the party’s Political Bureau in a statement. news conference.
On behalf of the communists, Andrade demanded the “immediate freedom” of the teenagers and the rest of the “people arbitrarily detained in the escalation of post-electoral repression.” According to figures from the Penal Forum, at least 58 of the 129 teenagers arrested in the context of the protests are still in prison.
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The Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which presented its latest report on the country on Tuesday, also noted that a group of these young people accused of alleged crimes of terrorism or inciting hatred were victims of torture and sexual violence.
The Mission investigated the case of two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, who were arrested during the protests without having participated in them. National Guard officers “detained them, beat them, pulled their hair, called them ‘guarimbera bitches’ and touched one of them between the legs over her clothes. They were later transferred to the Bolivarian National Guard command, where they were beaten and humiliated. One of them was forced to take off her pants and touched her genitals.”
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The PCV will join a campaign, promoted by other political parties, social and union organizations, to demand the release of all political prisoners in the country. Andrade announced the activation of a collection point for personal hygiene items and non-perishable food for the detainees, which will be set up in Plaza Brión, in Chacaíto, on Wednesday 18.
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