Announcement

The European International Human Rights Network (RIDHE) expresses its deep concern and joins the international call to demand the immediate release of Carlos Correa, director of the non-governmental organization Espacio Público, as well as of all those forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained in Venezuela. We reiterate our condemnation of the escalation of repression unleashed after the fraudulent elections held in 2024 and we urgently call on the authoritarian regime that governs the country to stop this wave of human rights violations.

Carlos Correa, a renowned journalist and human rights defender with a long career, was kidnapped on January 7, 2025 in Caracas. This fact is in addition to the forced disappearance of other activists and political leaders in the days leading up to the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro, which evidences a systematic pattern of persecution and repression. These actions are part of a strategy of the regime to silence the opposition and restrict the exercise of fundamental rights.

The RIDHE denounces that these arbitrary arrests and disappearances are part of a policy of State terrorism in a context of zero independence of powers in Venezuela. The absolute control of the executive body over state institutions has generated a system of impunity that perpetuates systematic human rights violations, aggravating the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Venezuelans. This situation has led to forced displacement and mass migration, especially impacting vulnerable groups such as women, girls, boys and adolescents, people with disabilities and older adults.

In its recent report entitled “Venezuela: Grave Human Rights Violations in the Electoral Context,” the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) documented three repressive phases implemented by the Maduro regime to prevent political participation, hinder free elections and persecute the opposition. This report highlights that the irregularities in the presidential elections of July 28, 2024 represent an alteration of the constitutional order and undermine the democratic legitimacy of the re-elected government. According to information from the Commission's Special Monitoring Mechanism for Venezuela (MESEVE), allegations of electoral fraud in 2024 caused around 300 spontaneous demonstrations, led mostly by young people living in poverty. In response, the regime deployed a phase of systematic repression that included:

- Mobilization of paramilitary groups to quell protests.
- The execution of the so-called “Operation Tun Tun”, which resulted in at least 25 murders, dozens of brief forced disappearances and around 2,000 arbitrary arrests, including of minors. - Documented cases of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
- Serious violations of judicial guarantees and freedom of expression.

The RIDHE urges the international community to reinforce its commitment to the Venezuelan people, who continue to fight for respect for their human rights. In particular, we call on countries in the region and the world to: demand an end to political persecution and repression; demand the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained persons; promote the restoration of constitutional order and the independence of public authorities in Venezuela; and guarantee the publication of ballot records and the conduct of an independent electoral audit with international observation.

The situation in Venezuela represents a threat to the stability of the region and an affront to democratic and human rights principles. International solidarity and concrete actions are indispensable to achieve justice and freedom for the Venezuelan people.