The non-governmental organization Foro Penal reported that since January 1, 2025, 83 political arrests have taken place in Venezuela. Among those detained are a foreign national, a teenager, and 13 women.
Most Arrests Linked to Opposition Protests
According to Foro Penal, the majority of these arrests occurred last Thursday, during protests organized by the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD), the main opposition group. Demonstrations took place in Caracas and other cities across Venezuela and abroad, supporting the claimed victory of Edmundo González Urrutia in the July 28, 2024, presidential elections.
#12E Balance de Detenidos Políticos en Venezuela del 1ro al 12 de enero 2025
𝟴𝟯 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹í𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀 entre los que se incluyen:
13 mujeres
1 extranjero
1 adolescente
Lista de detenidos: https://t.co/foEmDfTpva#QueSeHagaJusticia pic.twitter.com/k90VfTgMzR— Foro Penal (@ForoPenal) January 12, 2025
Protests and Chavismo Mobilization
On January 9, when 46 political arrests were recorded, supporters of Nicolás Maduro also took to the streets. They rallied in support of their leader, who began his third consecutive term in office last Friday. The opposition, including González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, called this event the culmination of a “coup d’état.”
January 7: A Day with 17 Detentions
January 7 saw the second-highest number of arrests, with 17 people detained. Among them were activist Carlos Correa, whose whereabouts remain unknown, former opposition presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, and Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of González Urrutia. Tudares described his detention as a “kidnapping.”
En medio de estos días agitados, quiero agradecer a todas las personas que se han hecho eco y nos han enviado mensajes de apoyo en el caso de la desaparición forzada de mi yerno, Rafael Tudares.
Ser el esposo de mi hija no es un delito; ser el padre de mis nietos no es un… pic.twitter.com/Ecdutwvxjo
— Edmundo González (@EdmundoGU) January 11, 2025
Zulia, Trujillo, and Caracas: Hotspots for Arrests
The report highlighted that 18 arrests occurred in Zulia state, located in northwestern Venezuela near the Colombian border. Trujillo followed with 14 arrests, and Caracas recorded 10.
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