Scope of Investigation into Víctor Quero Navas' Death Questioned by Rights Groups

Human rights organizations, political leaders, and activists have voiced concerns regarding the Public Ministry's investigation into the death of Víctor Hugo Quero Navas. While the ministry's statement confirmed the identity of the remains through genetic analysis with 99.496% probability and cited a pulmonary embolism as the biological cause of death, without evidence of traumatic injuries, critics argue that fundamental aspects of the circumstances surrounding his death and the responsibility of state institutions remain unaddressed.

Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla), a human rights organization, described the Public Ministry's brief statement as "alarming," suggesting it is insufficient as a definitive conclusion to the investigation. The organization considers the announcement only acceptable as a preliminary step, emphasizing that the reported conclusions do not answer essential questions about the conditions under which Quero Navas died while in state custody.

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It is alarming that the Public Ministry intends to pass off a few-paragraph statement as the definitive result of a real investigation into the case of Víctor Quero Navas. For any human rights organization, this document can only be acceptable if it is assumed as a preliminary advance.

JEPVzla further argued that the Public Ministry's statement, while suggesting a medical cause of death, "evades penal responsibility of the state." The organization insists that if his death was health-related, it is crucial to determine whether Quero Navas received adequate medical attention or if there were any omissions by the authorities responsible for his custody. They also highlighted the 16 months his mother spent searching for him without receiving information from various institutions, demanding an investigation into the actions of all agencies involved.

Laboratorio de Paz, another organization, echoed these sentiments, stating that the official communication provides a medical conclusion but "leaves fundamental aspects from a human rights perspective unanswered." The organizations collectively demand a more thorough investigation that addresses the full scope of events and potential state culpability.

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It is alarming that the Public Ministry intends to pass off a few-paragraph statement as the definitive result of a real investigation into the case of Víctor Quero Navas. For any human rights organization, this document can only be acceptable if it is assumed as a preliminary advance.