Opposition Leader Machado Laments Death of Venezuelan-Uruguayan Political Prisoner, Blames Government

Opposition leader María Corina Machado has expressed deep sorrow over the death of José Breijo, a 71-year-old Uruguayan-Venezuelan political prisoner, holding the Venezuelan government responsible for his demise. Machado described Breijo's passing as another casualty of the "infinite cruelty of this regime."

Breijo, who had been under house arrest in Caracas, died after enduring what Machado termed "kidnapping and injustice." The human rights committee of Machado's party, Vente Venezuela, issued a statement on X, asserting that the regime bears full responsibility for Breijo's death. They condemned his "arbitrary detention" in 2023 under baseless "terrorism" charges.

The committee detailed Breijo's suffering, noting he spent over two years in the Tocuyito Penitentiary. There, he reportedly experienced "severe malnutrition," losing over 50 kilograms, and suffered irreversible damage to his respiratory system. Even after being granted house arrest in May, Breijo discovered his apartment had been invaded and ransacked by a member of the GOES (Strategic Operations Group), a state security force.

"All these arbitrary actions progressively destroyed José Breijo's life and led him to a death that could and should have been avoided," the committee stated, demanding an independent investigation. Breijo had been detained after photographing a flag with Arabic inscriptions. Upon returning to his home, he found it largely emptied by the official who had invaded it. He was transferred to a health center in late May to treat various ailments.