Political persecution in Venezuela is on the rise, a UN-backed fact-finding mission reported Monday, calling on the international community to take swift action.
"More than a year after the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, we have observed an intensification of state repression, growing persecution against voices critical of the government, and entrenched impunity," the mission's chair, Marta Valinas, said at a press conference.
"Given the subordination of the judicial system to the government's repressive police... victims have no choice but to turn to the international community to seek justice," added Patricia Tappatá Valdez, another member of the mission.
In September 2019, the UN extended its monitoring of the situation in Venezuela after the UN Human Rights Council created the independent fact-finding mission.
The mission, which does not represent the United Nations, documented at least 200 arrests between January and late August 2025.
"In the first half of September... at least 14 more people were arrested," Valinas said.
The unrest following the contested 2024 presidential elections, claimed by Nicolás Maduro despite accusations of fraud from the opposition, resulted in 28 deaths and 2,400 arrests.
Approximately 2,000 people have since been released, according to official figures.
"Evidence obtained by the Fact-Finding Mission... confirms that the crime of persecution on political grounds continues to be committed in Venezuela, with no national authority demonstrating the will to prevent, prosecute, or punish the serious human rights violations," these serious human rights violations, noted Valinas.
For several years, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed by the Venezuelan government during a storm of nationwide protests in 2017, during which more than 100 people were killed.
"It [the ICC investigation] has taken, in our view, too long. The documentation is there. Documentation is available. We do respect, of course, their procedures, their independence, but we believe victims can't wait," stated Francisco Cox Vial, another member of the mission.
In January, Argentina filed a complaint with the ICC against Venezuela for the "forced disappearance and arbitrary detention" of border guard officer Nahuel Gallo, who was detained under accusations of "terrorism."
Trump rejects Maduro letter
US President Donald Trump on Monday rejected an invitation via letter from Maduro to open dialogue, with a spokesperson stating the initial request was full of "lies."
Maduro sent a letter to Trump on September 6, just days after the United States deployed warships off the coast of Venezuela and carried out the first of several attacks on Venezuela-based boats alleged by Washington to be carrying drugs.
"There were a lot of lies that were repeated by Maduro in that letter, and the administration's position on Venezuela has not changed," US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing, describing the left-wing leader as "illegitimate."
Meanwhile, Maduro rejected US allegations of being a drug trafficker and asked President Donald Trump for dialogue, according to a letter released Sunday by Caracas, as tensions soar between the two countries.
The letter addressed to Trump is dated September 6 and was sent days after the United States deployed warships off the coast of Venezuela and carried out the first of several attacks on Venezuela-based boats alleged by Washington to be carrying drugs.
That first attack left 11 people dead and two more strikes have followed, despite Maduro's letter with his plea for peace.
Since the letter was sent, US forces in the Caribbean have attacked two more boats that Washington said were carrying drugs – one off Venezuela and one further north, off the coast of the Dominican Republic.
In his letter, Maduro rejected as "absolutely false" US allegations that he leads a drug cartel.
"It is the worst fake news that has been launched against our country in an escalation in an armed conflict that would do catastrophic damage to the whole continent," the letter states.
The Venezuelan leader urged Trump to "keep the peace with dialogue and understanding in the entire hemisphere."
Maduro maintained that Venezuela was a "drug-free" country and that only five percent of the drugs produced in neighbouring Colombia made their way onto Venezuelan territory.
Since the letter was sent, US forces in the Caribbean have attacked two more boats that Washington said were carrying drugs – one off Venezuela and one further north, off the coast of the Dominican Republic.
Trump, however, has rejected the request. The US leader "has clearly demonstrated that he is willing to use all necessary means to stop the illegal trafficking of drugs from the Venezuelan regime," said a White House spokeswoman.
–TIMES/AFP
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