“Given that this is an election year, when the authorities are certainly resorting to all possible tools to control any expression of complaint, dissent or opposition, this return could significantly contribute to these very serious human rights violations that are being observed in particular.” against those who are active in political organizations that oppose the government, to somehow stop it,” explains Gonzalo Himiob Santome, vice president of the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, to RFI.

“However,” he continues, “there is no guarantee of this. Let us remind you that during the entire time the mission was here, human rights violations did not stop. But it’s always nice to know that we have people willing to receive these first-hand accounts. This, of course, largely contributes to the fact that the government, in a sense, becomes more restrained in this kind of human rights violations.”

Political persecution

“The persecution of opposition political figures has intensified. Let’s remember that there are currently six activists in prison from one of the main opposition parties, Maria Corina Machado’s party, Vente Venezuela. We have activist Carlos Julio Rojas arbitrarily imprisoned. We see that political parties or figures have been arbitrarily outlawed so that they cannot participate in electoral processes,” explains Gonzalo Himiob Santome.