Venezuela Releases 86 Teenagers Arrested in Post-Election Protests

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Facts

  • Seventy four boys and 12 girls aged 14 to 17 — all arrested for participating in anti-government protests that have taken place since Venezuela's July 28 election — were reportedly freed between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1.[1][2][3]
  • The government has allegedly detained more than 100 minors — some as young as 13 — since the start of the deadly protests, charging them with terrorism.[4][1]
  • The human rights non-profit organization Foro Penal estimates there were 1,780 political prisoners in Venezuela as of Aug. 26. If verified, this would be the highest rate recorded in decades.[5][6]
  • Another non-profit has alleged that over 700 such detainees were transferred to maximum security prisons, where many of them were unable to contact relatives or lawyers.[7]
  • Those arrested by security forces since the disputed re-election of Nicolás Maduro include key opposition figures like María Oropeza and Perkins Rocha.[8][9]
  • Last week — amid claims of electoral fraud — protests and counter-protests motivated by calls for voter tallies to be released, and even new elections, were renewed. In response, Maduro has reshuffled his cabinet to promote close allies.[10][11]

Sources: [1]Reuters, [2]Caracas Chronicles, [3]Colombiaone, [4]Washington Post, [5]Foro Penal English, [6]The Times, [7]Barrons, [8]FOX News, [9]Guardian, [10]Newsweek and [11]Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by EL PAÍS English and Journal of Democracy. Venezuela's authoritarian Bolivarian regime faces impending doom, as its popularity has finally evaporated. Maduro is desperate to maintain his grip on power through terror, along with the repression of opposition leaders and ordinary people. Edmundo González won the popular vote and the nation will keep fighting until democracy is enacted.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Peoplesdispatch and Venezuelanalysis. Far-right mobs in Venezuela have turned to street violence after yet another US-backed, undemocratic attempt to overthrow Maduro. These teenage vandals are part of this socially damaging disruption. Pres. Nicolás Maduro is the rightful winner of the election, and allegations doubting the result of the 2024 vote must end.

Predictions