Venezuelan Prisons Observatory Demands Minister's Dismissal Over Inmate's Death

The Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons (OVP) has issued a strong call for the removal of Minister for Penitentiary Service, Julio García Zerpa, in the wake of the death of Víctor Hugo Quero Navas while in state custody. This demand from the OVP, a prominent human rights organization in Venezuela, highlights deep concerns regarding the treatment and transparency surrounding detainees within the country's prison system. The organization's public statements, disseminated via platforms like X, directly challenge the official narrative, underscoring a pattern of alleged abuses and lack of accountability.

Central to the OVP's grievance is the discrepancy between the official account of Quero Navas's death, attributed to actions by the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), and the testimony provided by his mother, Carmen Teresa Navas. The OVP pointedly questions the DGCIM's involvement, asking why the agency would apprehend an individual without proper identification procedures and why standard police protocols were seemingly bypassed. This skepticism reflects a broader distrust in the methods employed by state security forces, particularly in cases involving individuals who have been subjected to prolonged detention or disappearance.

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¿Cómo es que este organismo detiene a una persona que no conoce? ¿Por qué la Dgcim no tomó los datos filiatorios y las huellas dactilares para identificarlo, como debería hacerlo cualquier órgano policial?

The case of Víctor Hugo Quero Navas, who had been missing for 16 months, brings to light the issue of forced disappearances in Venezuela. The OVP's statement emphasizes that despite the case being under the purview of the Public Ministry since October, the family received no substantive answers regarding his condition or whereabouts. The organization also raises critical questions about the role of the Ombudsman's Office, questioning why they did not intervene more forcefully to verify Quero's physical state or confirm if he was still alive. This highlights a perceived systemic failure in protecting detainees' rights and ensuring their well-being while in the custody of the state.

Furthermore, the OVP has provided stark statistics, reporting the deaths of four political prisoners under state custody in 2025 and a total of 28 such fatalities since 2015. These figures paint a grim picture of the conditions within Venezuelan prisons and the ongoing human rights crisis. The organization's persistent documentation and advocacy aim to bring international attention to these issues, pushing for accountability and systemic reform. From a Venezuelan perspective, these events are not isolated incidents but symptomatic of deeper issues within the justice and penal systems, demanding urgent attention and action from both national authorities and international observers.

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¿Cómo es posible que la Defensoría del Pueblo conociera la existencia del expediente y aun así la familia siguiera sin respuestas? ¿Por qué el Ministerio Público nunca exigió verificar personalmente la condición física de Víctor ni constatar si seguía con vida?