Mother of 2014 Protest Victim Still Seeks Justice Amid Obstacles

More than a decade after her daughter Geraldine Moreno died during the 2014 anti-government protests, Rosa Orozco says she still encounters significant obstacles in her quest for justice and truth. Moreno, a 23-year-old student and athlete from Carabobo state, was critically injured on February 19, 2014, during a protest in Naguanagua. She sustained multiple pellet wounds to the face, which caused irreversible damage. After several days in the hospital, she passed away on February 22, 2014.

Orozco expressed her dismay in a VPI TV interview that some officials involved in the operations during those protests continue to hold positions within state institutions, with some even receiving promotions. "It is not possible that you are rewarded for having shot Venezuelan citizens," Orozco stated, referring to security forces she alleges were involved in actions against civilian protesters.

She also voiced concerns about the perceived lack of independence within the institutions responsible for investigating the events. Orozco believes this has hindered a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding her daughter's death. "All we ask for is the truth and justice, what happened and how it happened," she declared.

Geraldine Moreno's death became one of the most emblematic cases of the 2014 Venezuelan protests. Human rights organizations documented the excessive use of force by security agencies during the demonstrations. While the Ministry of Justice years later sentenced a National Bolivarian Guard sergeant to 30 years in prison and another officer to 16.5 years, Orozco maintains that responsibilities remain unclear and not all involved parties have been held accountable.

Orozco is determined to keep her daughter's case in the public eye, ensuring her death is not forgotten. For her, the pursuit of justice remains an outstanding debt that the Venezuelan state has yet to settle.