The anguish of the families of those arrested during the protests against the contested re-election of Nicolas Maduro

What will become of them? In Venezuela, after the demonstrations against the announcement of Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the presidential election, 988 people were arrested in one week, including 91 teenagers, according to the human rights NGO Foro Penal.

In front of the police station in Boleita, a working-class neighborhood in eastern Caracas, dozens of people have been gathered for days, hoping to learn more about the situation of a relative who was arrested. But it is impossible for the families to communicate with them, as Alejandra explains, without news of her brother for a week: “They don’t want to tell us anything and they don’t let us see him. So I don’t know if my brother is okay. But at least let them tell us what’s going to happen now!” she demands.

Nicolas Maduro has promised to build two high-security prisons for “re-educate“The protesters. Some of the detainees have already been brought before the courts for “terrorism and treason against the homeland”. However, their right to defense has been violated.”I am a private lawyer and I try to defend the people who were arrested, but orders have been given, they only have the right to a court-appointed lawyer, but it is not up to the authorities to choose the defense of the protesters!“, denounces one of the lawyers leading the fight, Mr Joyas.

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have denounced the fierce repression of the Venezuelan authorities last week, the organization counts 20 deaths so far. As a reminder, Venezuela is already under investigation by the International Criminal Court for the alleged commission of crimes against humanity during protests.