Venezuelan forces accused of ‘brutal’ repression in post-election protests

Human Rights Watch says security forces and pro-government armed groups killed 23 protesters following Maduro’s victory.

Venezuela’s security forces and pro-government armed groups committed widespread abuses following the disputed presidential election in July, an international rights group has said.

The national guard, police force and armed groups known as “colectivos” killed 23 protesters during protests in the aftermath of the July 28 election, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on the post-election crackdown on Wednesday.

Thousands of people, including minors, took to the streets across Venezuela hours after electoral authorities, loyal to the governing party, declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner of the election, which the opposition said was stolen.

Maduro and allies of his United Socialist Party responded with full force, carrying out arbitrary detentions, prosecutions and a campaign – called Operation Tun Tun or Operation Knock Knock – encouraging people to report relatives, neighbours and other acquaintances who participated in the protests or cast doubt on the results.

“The repression we are seeing in Venezuela is shockingly brutal,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at HRW. “Concerned governments need to take urgent steps to ensure that people are able to peacefully protest and that their vote is respected.”