Venezuela: Attorney General Meets Family Members of Detainees Regarding their Requests for Case Review
November 15, 2024 (our website) - Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab convened with families of detainees implicated in the turmoil sparked by the July 28 presidential elections.
Outside the Attorney General's Office in Caracas, a grieving mother, Theany Urbina, shared her optimism after meeting with Saab. He had guaranteed a thorough examination of the cases, promising prompt release for those found innocent. She voiced her hope that authorities would honor their promises, acknowledging no set deadlines but expecting swift action.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Attorney General's Office confirmed that extensive investigations would be undertaken, revealing new evidence that would lead to the scrutiny of 225 cases.
Venezuela witnessed widespread chaos following the July vote, resulting in 27 casualties. The government pinned the blame on the hardline opposition for inflaming the violence, including the assassination of two Socialist Party (PSUV) grassroots activists. Security forces made hundreds of arrests in the subsequent weeks, with police spokespeople reporting over 2,000 detainees in total.
Pro-opposition NGO Foro Penal has documented 1,848 people imprisoned post-elections, including 69 minors. Relatives of the detainees have voiced concerns over due process violations and the harsh conditions in prisons.
Earlier in the week, Saab defended the actions of security and judicial institutions, accusing a campaign to "smear" authorities and "glorify" the perpetrators of the violence. He asserted that there were no complaints against police officers and that the detainees had their human rights protected in custody.
"There are no minor detainees," Saab asserted in a press conference on Monday. "There are 16- and 17-year-old teenagers who have admitted to their actions. The others are adults."
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro defended the need for justice, urging judicial authorities to "correct" instances where there might have been procedural errors.
"I call on Attorney General Saab and the country's judges, to correct and review any case that necessitates it, so that justice prevails," he said during his weekly broadcast.
The president's message followed a demonstration last week by the so-called "Mothers in Defense of Truth." They read out a letter to Maduro, pleading for mercy to secure their sons' release. The text alleged numerous irregularities in the judicial processes, including detentions without warrants, groundless charges, and obstacles in securing defense attorneys. They highlighted that many of the detained had not participated in protests and pointed out the "difficult and precarious" prison conditions.
On Thursday, Venezuelan authorities confirmed the death of Jesús Martínez Medina in state custody due to diabetic and cardiac complications. Relatives stated he was taken to the hospital last week but ultimately passed away. Martínez, an opposition electoral witness during the presidential elections, was arrested on July 29. The Attorney General's Office released a statement on Friday "mourning" Martínez's death but did not clarify whether he had been formally charged.
Venezuelan electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 presidential contest. Their judgment was subsequently ratified by Venezuela's Supreme Court. Maduro's third six-year term will commence on January 10.
The US-backed opposition refused to accept the results, triggering violent protests in the immediate aftermath and later publishing a questionable set of electoral tallies containing an apparent landslide victory for their candidate, Edmundo González.
[UPDATE Nov. 19: Venezuelan authorities confirmed the release of over 200 prisoners over the weekend. Sources varied on the exact figure, with some detainees still facing possible trials. Two Spanish nationals, accused of belonging to Spanish intelligence agency CNI and participating in alleged terrorist plots, are reportedly among those released.]
Edited by José Luis Granados Ceja from Mexico City, Mexico.
Enrichment Data:
General Insight: The unfolding events reflect an ongoing legal and political stalemate between the Maduro government and the opposition, involving allegations of electoral fraud, human rights violations, and continued instances of violence.
Post-Election Tensions: The Maduro government's refusal to publish precinct-level results in a timely manner following the July 2024 elections has been met with skepticism and resistance from the opposition. Several key opposition leaders, including Edmundo González Urrutia (presidential candidate) and María Corina Machado, have faced exile, imprisonment, or forced disappearance[1][2].
Legal Measures and Human Rights Concerns: The enactment of the Simón Bolívar Law (November 2024) imposes harsh penalties, including up to 30 years in prison and 60-year disqualifications, for supporting international sanctions, effectively stifling dissent[2][3]. Hundreds of activists and opposition witnesses from the 2024 elections have reportedly faced arrest or intimidation[3]. Reports of due process violations, harsh prison conditions, and lengthy detentions without warrants [4] have raised concerns over human rights abuses.
Opposition Divisions and Electoral Participation: While Henrique Capriles has broken ranks to participate in May 2025 regional elections, most opposition leaders remain marginalized[2][3]. The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD)'s demands for electoral participation, such as releasing prisoners and allowing exiles to return, remain unmet[3]. The opposition's boycott rhetoric indicates ongoing repression and appeals for international intervention[2][5].
- The grieving mother, Theany Urbina, expressed her hope that the authorities would honor their promises, acknowledging no set deadlines but expecting swift action, after meeting with Attorney General Tarek William Saab outside the Attorney General's Office in Caracas.
- In a general news report, it was revealed that Venezuela witnessed widespread complications following the July 28 presidential elections, resulting in 27 casualties and the arrest of over 2,000 individuals.
- Pro-opposition NGO Foro Penal has documented 1,848 people imprisoned post-elections, including 69 minors, and has voiced concerns over due process violations and harsh conditions in prisons.
- The US-backed opposition refused to accept the results of the July 28 presidential elections, triggering war-and-conflicts and intensifying political tensions in Venezuela.
