Tue Sep 17 06:43:00 UTC 2024: ## UN Report Condemns Venezuela’s Crackdown on Post-Election Protests

**GENEVA** – A United Nations report has condemned the Venezuelan government’s escalating repression of peaceful protests following the country’s disputed July election. The report, compiled by a UN fact-finding mission, alleges a systematic and deliberate campaign to silence dissent and maintain President Nicolas Maduro’s grip on power.

The mission, denied access to Venezuela, interviewed hundreds of individuals remotely or in third countries. Their findings paint a grim picture of widespread human rights abuses, including:

* **Deaths:** At least 24 protesters were killed, with most deaths attributed to gunshot wounds to the neck.
* **Arrests:** Over 2,400 individuals were arrested, including ordinary citizens in poor neighborhoods, often through the feared “knock-knock” operations, where government critics are detained without warning.
* **Opposition Suppression:** The government systematically dismantled the opposition, blocked independent information, and stifled protests, according to the report.
* **Justice System Abuse:** The Venezuelan justice system has been weaponized to silence any opposition to Maduro’s regime.

The report asserts that the repression was orchestrated from Maduro himself, marking a new low in Venezuela’s deteriorating rule of law. The UN investigators found that government authorities abandoned any semblance of independence, instead deferring to the executive branch, creating a climate of fear.

The report also details an increase in allegations of disappearances, torture, and cruel treatment since 2019. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who claimed victory in the election but has since sought asylum in Spain, was subject to an arrest warrant in Venezuela.

While the UN investigation lacks legally binding powers, its findings provide further evidence of human rights abuses in Venezuela. The report is likely to be used in international courts to hold the Venezuelan government accountable for its actions.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet issued a statement in response to the report.

Read More