MADRID, Spain.- Between last Thursday, August 29 and September 1, the regime of Nicolas Maduro released a total of 86 adolescents, out of more than 100 who have been arrested following the presidential elections of July 28, 2024.
The NGO Foro Penal, dedicated to the defense of political prisoners in the country, detailed The releases were carried out under precautionary measures. The teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were arrested in the context of protests that erupted following the announcement of the official results of the presidential election.
Through its account on the social network X (formerly Twitter), Foro Penal reported this Sunday that of the 86 released adolescents, 74 are men and 12 are women. These young people come from various states of the country, including Miranda, Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Bolívar, Carabobo, Caracas, Cojedes, Lara, Mérida, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Táchira, Yaracuy and Zulia.
The organization also shared a video showing a group of teenagers reunited with their families after court hearings. However, while many have been released, the exact number of teenagers still in detention is unknown.
For her part, the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado This weekend, Machado denounced President Nicolás Maduro, saying that his government has condemned young Venezuelans to “exile, poverty and lack of opportunities,” as well as subjecting them to “violence and prison.” Machado also denounced the violation of the rights of adolescents, pointing out that their detention has caused deep suffering to both the young people and their families.
To date, official figures indicate that more than 2,400 people have been arrested since 29 July, with at least 25 deaths recorded in protest-related violence.
Last week The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presented a report to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), in which it highlighted the violations, repression and deaths in Venezuela following the July 28 elections.
Roberta Clarke, president of the IACHR, indicated in the presentation that the deaths are “attributable to state forces, military forces, police and groups that act with the consent of the State.”
The board also denounced the arbitrary arrests of opponents and the harassment of Venezuelans who reject the results announced by the pro-government National Electoral Council (CNE), which accredited Nicolás Maduro’s victory at the polls without presenting the electoral records that would support the fact.
Clarke called for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and for the restoration of democracy.
More than a month after the elections, the CNE has not shown the breakdown of the results.
