UN Official Condemns Venezuela's Arbitrary Detentions

The United Nations' top human rights official, Volker Türk, expressed significant concern over arbitrary detentions and the excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces following the disputed presidential election, in which President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory despite evidence suggesting he lost. Over 2,000 individuals have been detained for protesting or questioning the election results, with reports of detainees being denied legal representation and family contact, leading to cases resembling enforced disappearances. Türk emphasized that criminal law should not restrict freedoms of expression and assembly, and he called for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained individuals. As the opposition prepares for a demonstration to pressure Maduro, opposition leader María Corina Machado warned of the prolonged political crisis ahead. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan parliament is considering laws that could further restrict NGOs and political dissent, adding to a climate of fear in the country. The International Criminal Court has announced it is closely monitoring the situation amidst rising violence and repression.