Portuguese among 1,877 people detained for political reasons
The Venezuelan non-governmental organisation (NGO) Foro Penal has said that there are three people with Portuguese nationality among the 1,877 detained for political reasons in Venezuela.
In a note published on Instagram, the NGO that leads the defence of people detained for reasons of conscience in Venezuela said that of the 1,877 inmates, 19 are foreigners and 31 have dual nationality.
Of the detainees with dual nationality, three are Portuguese, 12 are Spanish, nine Italian, six Colombian and one Chilean.
The NGO adds that of the 19 foreigners, four are Colombian, three Ecuadorian, two Spanish and the rest are from Argentina, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay and the United States.
As of last Wednesday, Foro Penal counted 1,877 ‘political prisoners’, including six teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17.
According to official figures, around 2,400 people have been arrested as part of the post-election protests, which have also caused 28 deaths, including two military personnel, and 192 injuries.
Hours earlier, Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office announced that a further 177 detainees had been released following the July 28 presidential elections, ostensibly bringing the number of releases to 910.
On Saturday, however, the Venezuelan NGO Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners said that “there are serious doubts with the official number” of those released, since, “this is not the first time (the government) has lied” about this issue.
Venezuela held presidential elections on July 28 which have widely been denounced as fraudulent, and which sparked several violent protests after the presumed losing incumbent claimed victory. As things stand, the current president, Nicolás Maduro, is to take office on January 10 for another six-year term. Mr Maduro has been president of Venezuela since 2013.
Source: LUSA
