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Venezuela opposition blames government for political prisoner's death

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Vente Venezuela's Human Rights Committee blames the government for the death of political prisoner José Breijo.
  • Breijo, who was under house arrest, allegedly suffered severe malnutrition and health deterioration during his detention.
  • The organization demands an independent investigation into his death, citing arbitrary detention and mistreatment.

The Human Rights Committee of Vente Venezuela has accused the government of responsibility for the death of political prisoner José Breijo. Breijo, a Venezuelan-Uruguayan national, died while under house arrest in Caracas after more than two years of detention.

the responsibility falls fully on the regime, which arbitrarily deprived him of his liberty in 2023 under the absurd and unfounded accusation of 'terrorism,' after having taken a photograph of a flag in a commercial establishment in Caracas.

— Vente Venezuela Human Rights CommitteeThe organization's statement explaining the grounds for their accusation against the government.

The organization stated that Breijo's death resulted from the conditions he faced during his imprisonment. They claim the "regime" bears full responsibility for his arbitrary detention in 2023 on baseless "terrorism" charges, stemming from a photograph of a flag taken in a Caracas store.

According to Vente Venezuela, Breijo was initially held at the Tocuyito Penitentiary Center. There, he allegedly experienced severe malnutrition, losing over 50 kilograms, and suffered irreversible health decline, particularly affecting his respiratory system. Upon his release to house arrest in May, he found his apartment occupied and his belongings missing, reportedly by a GOES official.

severe malnutrition, losing more than 50 kilos of weight, and an irreversible deterioration of his health, especially his respiratory system.

— Vente Venezuela Human Rights CommitteeDescribing the alleged physical decline of José Breijo during his detention.

Vente Venezuela asserts that these cumulative abuses destroyed Breijo's life and led to a preventable death. They are demanding an independent investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding his passing. Breijo had only recently regained access to his apartment, which he found stripped of possessions by the official who had occupied it during his absence.

all these arbitrary actions progressively destroyed José Breijo's life and led him to a death that could and should have been avoided.

— Vente Venezuela Human Rights CommitteeThe committee's statement on the cumulative impact of mistreatment on Breijo's health.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.