OHCHR: ‘Climate of fear’ in Venezuela after arrest warrant issued for opposition presidential candidate News
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OHCHR: ‘Climate of fear’ in Venezuela after arrest warrant issued for opposition presidential candidate

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) described a continuing “climate of fear” in Venezuela on Tuesday after the issuing of an arrest warrant for the opposition’s presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez. The office reiterated deep concerns over the situation in Venezuela, where controversy over the declaration of Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the July election has led to widespread protests and extensive repression by the state in response.

Gonzalez’s arrest warrant came after the opposition party published over 80% of polling tally sheets, which they used to support claims refuting the official declaration of Maduro’s victory and called for a publication of the full tallies. The Venezuelan Attorney General’s office accused Gonzalez of crimes including conspiracy, “usurpation of functions” and falsification of public documents.

Several states have condemned the arrest warrant, including the US. The US Department of State called the action “arbitrary and politically motivated” noting that Gonzalez won the most votes in the election.

Many sources have also noted extensive repression against protesters in Venezuela, which began at the end of the election on July 28. Human Rights Watch (HRW) notes that over 2400 people have been arrested in the protest, while the UN’s independent fact-finding mission in the country noted that many detainees have been indiscriminately labeled as “terrorists”. Both sources have noted the use of lethal force against protesters. The UN mission noted at least 23 deaths from July 28 to August 8 in the context of the protests, a vast majority of the deaths being caused by gunfire.

The office’s spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, expressed particular concern over the detention of activists, stating: “People are being detained for expressing their right to political participation, for their freedom of expression, for freedom of assembly,” and called for “all parties to resolve all electoral disputes by peaceful means and there needs to be a climate where there is a full protection of the human rights of all individuals regardless of their political affiliation.”

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