Venezuela’s regime has arrested two elderly citizens on charges of “publicly celebrating” the capture of former dictator Nicolás Maduro. The case indicates the beginning of a new wave of repression following the United States military operation carried out on Saturday (3), which culminated in the arrest of the Venezuelan dictator.
According to exiled Venezuelan opponent Carlos García, two elderly farmers, aged 64 and 65, were detained in the municipality of Guaraque, in the state of Mérida, after celebrating Maduro’s arrest by the US.
“They weren’t stealing. They were just expressing what they thought. Punishing opinion remains state policy in Venezuela,” wrote García on the social network X.
According to a survey by the organization Caleidoscopio Humano, at least six people were detained in the last 24 hours for celebrating Maduro’s arrest, although only two remained in prison until midday this Tuesday (6). The information was sent to the Venezuelan portal Cocuyo Effect.
The NGO Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón also recorded arrests in the state of Mérida related to the sharing of celebratory content following Saturday’s operation.
