Elections in Venezuela: During 10 days of election campaign, more than 70 people with links to the Venezuelan opposition were arrested | International

Ten days ago, candidates began touring Venezuela to mark the official start of the presidential election campaign. Security forces have also increased their persecution and, during these ten days, 71 arbitrary arrests have been registered among supporters and members of opposition parties supporting candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who is running as a second option after the legal blockade imposed by Chavismo on the candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado.

The arrest data was compiled by the non-governmental organization Laboratorio de Paz and comes during a period of intensification of the repressive behavior against opposition figures, activists and dissidents that has been observed throughout the year. Chavismo has responded with an iron fist to the mass demonstrations in favor of Urrutia, who inherited the political capital that Machado managed to gain among Venezuelans dissatisfied with the Chavista system. Machado’s closest supporters, the directors of her Vente Venezuela party, were detained months ago, and six others have sought refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas. These latest arbitrary arrests in several states of the country came after the closure of companies contracted by the opposition campaign teams to provide food, accommodation and other services.

Following one of the largest opposition mobilizations, businessman Ricardo Albacete Vidal, who had hosted Machado at his home while she was on a trip through the state of Táchira, was arrested. Albacete, a 72-year-old Spanish national, was attacked by unidentified men in Caracas last week. Prosecutor Tarek William Saab later confirmed the arrest, saying it was part of an investigation into alleged “sabotage of the electricity network to anger the population and destabilize the presidential election.”

Also arrested on Monday was the driver of the truck in which Urrutia and Machado were travelling in a convoy along Avenida Cedeño in the city of Valencia, in the state of Carabobo. After finishing his workday and exposing the electoral propaganda, the driver, Elisaúl Rodríguez, was on his way to a nearby highway, where police intercepted and arrested him for allegedly running over some pedestrians. Two people who were with him in the truck are also in prison.

Another driver delivering water for the same opposition rally was also arrested in the hours after the event. That same weekend, Ángel Aristimuño, a member of Machado’s inner circle, and Dennis Martínez, coordinator of the Vente Venezuela party in Anaco, Anzoátegui state, in the eastern state of Monagas, were arrested.

In the tense climate in which the presidential campaign is unfolding, there have also been 26 cases of harassment by officials against candidates – such as that of Urrutia a few days ago when he boarded a plane to Barinas – and 11 cases of blockades on public roads to prevent supporters from attending political events. There has also been a digital blockade against four independent media outlets dedicated to verifying false reports. Last month, five activists linked to the opposition were arrested in less than 72 hours.

Lawyer Perkins Rocha, a senior member of Machado’s team, called on members of the National Electoral Council to address the “wave of arrests” after pointing out that “the responsibility for ensuring that candidates compete transparently rests on their shoulders.” Ensuring a peaceful climate as a prerequisite for free and democratic elections is one of the provisions of the Barbados Accords, which are now only valid on paper given the evolution of the political crisis in Venezuela over the past year. As the July 28 elections approach, political tensions and violence appear to be increasing.

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